Millions of people give their sweethearts chocolates on Valentine's Day. It has become a time-honored tradition. However, some people may feel guilty about indulging in such a high-fat food.

One expert says that couples should not be afraid to give each other chocolate on Valentine's Day, as certain varieties may be rich in a type of antioxidants known as flavonoids. These nutrients have been shown to provide strong heart health support.

Cardiologist Julie Damp said that this is one of the upsides of the holiday. While eating chocolate may seem like an indulgence, darker varieties may be beneficial for heart health.

However, not just any chocolate will do. Damp points out that the antioxidants are mostly present in dark chocolate with very high concentrations of cocoa. Standard milk chocolate may simply represent a high-calorie treat that is devoid of any special nutritional qualities.

So this Valentine's Day, couples should feel free to live a little and satisfy their sweet tooth. A couple pieces of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate may actually be good for heart health.