This Valentine’s Day, make a date with — what else? — chocolate.

During Valentine’s week, Americans are expected to buy more than 58 million pounds of chocolate candy. And more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold, according to the National Confectioners Association.

If chocolate indeed is the way to your sweetie’s heart, it may be truer than ever. Ongoing research supports the health benefits of chocolate, particularly the dark variety.

Cocoa beans contain flavanoids that have antioxidant qualities. Antioxidants combat free radicals that damage cells. They also help reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. The higher the cocoa content of the chocolate, the better.

“I knew if I was in business long enough they’d say chocolate is good for you,” says Gayle Harte, owner of Gayle’s Chocolates in Royal Oak, Mich.

“More and more people are trying dark chocolate now, and they are finding out dark chocolate is good tasting.”

Harte started her chocolate business more than 33 years ago, making hand-rolled and -dipped truffles. They’re still being made that way at her Michigan stores.

“I think Valentine’s is a truffle holiday,” Harte says. “It’s a special piece of candy, and I haven’t seen them go in or out of fashion.”

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Despite all the good health news about chocolate, that shouldn’t be a license to overindulge. (OK, it’s Valentine’s Day.) Chocolate still has calories, fat and saturated fat. There are no hard-and-fast guidelines, but a moderate portion of chocolate — 1 ounce — a few times a week is fine.