Sharing the Love of Dark Chocolate and Red Wine With These 10 Heart Health Facts

To celebrate American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day, here are 10 facts to share with your loved one about the relationship of dark chocolate and red wine to our heart health.

Dark Chocolate:

Cocoa is rich in flavanols, which supports the relaxation of blood vessels to improve blood flow. This then can decrease blood pressure within our bodies. Dark chocolate contains 2-3 times more flavanol rick cocoa compared to milk chocolate.
Research has not determined a specific recommendation for intake of dark chocolate. It is best to choose a dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao content (this is the raw version of cocoa) and about 1 ounce as a treat from time to time. To give you an idea what 1 ounce of dark chocolate means, think 2 truffles from the heart box your sweetie gives you for Valentine’s Day.
The higher the percentage of cacao content, the higher the caffeine. It is important to not overdo it especially if you are already eating/drinking highly caffeinated items. To put it into perspective, 2 ounces of 70% dark chocolate contains about 50-60 mg caffeine, which 8 ounces of coffee contain 100-200 mg caffeine.
If you are trying to find flavanols to support your heart health in other forms besides chocolate, try tea, apples, grapes, and/or red wine
Yes, dark chocolate does contain saturated fat, which is a solid at room temperature and can increase the amount of cholesterol (a waxy, fat-like substance) within our bodies. This build up can put our heart at risk, but the effect of flavanols outweigh the risks when eaten in moderation.

Red Wine:

Red wine contains resveratrol, which is found in the red grape’s skin, and has shown that it may reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure.
Red wine in moderation is the key. When speaking about alcohol recommendations we are focused on one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. 1 glass of 4 ounces of red wine is considered one drink.
If you are trying to find resveratrol to support your heart health in other forms besides wine, try whole grapes (with skin) and berries.
Now why aren’t we talking about white wine too? Red wine contains more resveratrol than white wine, as it is fermented with grape skins and white wine is not.
There is a connection between red wine and the benefit to our heart health, however, there is question if those who are drinking red wine in moderation, are also living a healthier lifestyle, and following a Mediterranean diet.

I hope this Valentine’s Day while you are sipping on your red wine and eating your dark chocolate candy you think of the role it could play in your heart health, when enjoyed in moderation.

Cheers to a lovely February,

This blog was written by Amanda J. Stahl RD, LDN, co-founder of Simple Start Nutrition. For more blog posts and nutrition information follow @simplestartnutrition on Instagram and Facebook. Also feel free to contact us, by visiting our website (simplestartnutrition.com) to schedule an appointment to discuss your nutrition related needs. We’re here to help.

References:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-benefits-of-having-a-healthy-relationship-with-chocolate#:~:text=Increases%20heart%20health%3A%20The%20antioxidants,and%20death%20from%20heart%20disease.

https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/0216p10.shtml

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/dark-chocolate/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265635#stroke

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/05/24/drinking-red-wine-for-heart-health-read-this-before-you-toast

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/02/12/are-there-health-benefits-from-chocolate