Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the holiday for couples in love since the 1700s when poetry was written on hand-cut delicate card creations and presented to one's true love on St. Valentine's Day. In the early 1800s "machine valentines" became available, and the industry took hold in the hearts on lovers. By the mid-1900s the holiday found gifts of chocolate, roses and jewelry accompanying the traditional Valentine's card, to the tune of $17 billion dollars annually. The average American will spend $122.98 on his or her loved one. Men spend almost twice as much as women do on Valentine's Day.

Chocolate is a favorite gift when Cupid's arrows are flying, with over 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate sold annually in the United States. Dark chocolate has been found in recent studies to lower blood pressure as long as consumption did not result in weight gain (weight gain is associated with increasing blood pressure values). Antioxidants in dark chocolate (cocoa phenols) are responsible and dark chocolate is preferred because the calcium solids in milk chocolate may reduce absorption of the beneficial antioxidants. White chocolate does not have the cocoa phenols. The Mayans have revered chocolate for its energizing properties for centuries, likely attributable to theobromines and caffeine present in the cocoa bean. It is the theobromine content that makes chocolate toxic to dogs and cats. Although, popular lore suggests chocolate has aphrodisiac properties, there is no research to support this premise.

Like all foods, chocolate can be part of healthy lifestyle if consumed in moderation. Just make it a special treat and keep intake conservative. If your plans this year include chocolate or you believe yourself to be knowledgeable on the subject, take the quiz and see if you know the answers as Cupid aims his arrows this Valentine's Day.

The TAKE HOME message for Valentine's Day: Focus on a special treat and keep intake conservative! All foods fit in MODERATION as a part of a healthy lifestyle.