Feb. 10--With Valentine's Day on Thursday, many of us are hoping our sweeties come through with a big box of chocolates. From a nutrition standpoint, is that a bad thing? Here's a quiz to find out how much you know about chocolate.
1. A 1-ounce serving of chocolate contains about the same amount of caffeine found in one cup of decaffeinated coffee.
True or false?
2. A chocolate bar is more likely to cause tooth decay than a slice of wheat bread.
True or false?
3. Chocolate is a major cause of migraine headaches.
True or false?
4. Cocoa butter, the primary fat in chocolate, causes high blood cholesterol.
True or false?
5. Some types of cocoa powder and chocolate are rich sources of antioxidant compounds which may be beneficial to the heart and arteries.
True or false?
6. A typical 1.5 ounce chocolate bar contains 15 percent of the daily value for riboflavin.
True or false?
7. Most American consumers prefer dark chocolate to milk chocolate.
True or false?
8. Americans eat more chocolate annually than people in Switzerland.
True or false?
9. Chocolate and broccoli contain an enzyme that causes the brain to release endorphins. These endorphins give a person a feeling of euphoria.
True or false?
Source: National Confectioners Association
Answers: 1. True. 2. False. They are about the same. 3. False. In some people they can cause headaches but it is uncommon. 4. False. 5. True. 6. True. 7. False. 8. False. 9. True
-----
To see more of The Sacramento Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sacbee.com/.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.