Ah, the month for love is upon us!

Maybe he’ll go to Jared or maybe she’ll get you those sports tickets you really wanted, or maybe you’re like Dr. Kash and can’t wait for the day after Valentine’s for that oh so greatly discounted chocolate! Mmmmm…..chocolate! While we’re on the sweet subject, Dr. Kash has some interesting info concerning eye health and you guessed it…chocolate! Dark chocolate that is. But first, here’s some chocolaty fun facts about the delicious candy.

• The first appearance of the chocolate bar was in Britain by Joseph Fry in 1847.
• According to a study by the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing, a single 1.6 bar of dark chocolate is ctually very good for you. So say bye-bye to the guilt!
• It can take 2 to 5 years for a cacao tree to produce its first beans, but it’s so worth the wait!
• It takes roughly 400 beans to make a single pound of chocolate!

Since dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cocoa than milk chocolate, it contains many flavanoids, antioxidants, and flavanols, which have been shown to increase blood flow.  This means better blood flow to the retina as well as the rest of the body. Dark chocolate is also rich in copper which can help promote healthy nerve function and that includes the optic nerve. And lastly, because this tasty morsel is rich in antioxidants, it aids in the fight against diseases including macular degeneration.

While dark chocolate alone is not the answer to overall eye health, it sure is nice to know that enjoying it can also come with some benefits! Of course, more studies need to be done in order to determine direct effects on the eyes. In the meantime, eat those delectable little nuggets without guilt!