Red fruits recommended instead of high-energy chocolate on the Valentine’s Day

BANGKOK, Feb 13 – The Health Department recommends people give red fruits to express love instead of chocolate as one bar of chocolate gives as much energy as six rice spoons of rice. Dr Amporn Benjapolpitak, deputy director-general of the Health Department, said that for the Valentine’s Day the department recommended baskets of red fruits that were full of useful vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. She recommended red apples that contain much fibre, facilitate defecation, reduce cholesterol and have antioxidants. She also referred to strawberries which have high content of vitamin C to control blood pressure and prevent occlusion. Other recommended fruits are red and black grapes that have antioxidants and help prevent occlusion, as well as rose apples offering antioxidants and reducing cholesterol. For chocolate lovers, Dr Amporn suggested the limited consumption of dark chocolate that has an antioxidant called flavonoid. Dark chocolate also strengthens heart, boosts blood circulation and reduces the risk of occlusion. Excessive consumption of all kinds of chocolate could lead to obesity, diabetes and hypertension because it is very sweet. A chocolate bar gives as much energy as six rice spoons of rice. (TNA)