Indulge in Chocolate, Red Wine, and These Different Healthy Tips for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is coming and with it come hearts. Heart chocolates, heart ornaments, heart appreciation cards, hearts everywhere! However, there is a heart more necessary than all others to suppose this Valentine's Day: yours.
Once we think of Valentine’s Day Chocolate Gifts, we expect romance, not heart health, yet the two don't seem to be mutually exclusive.
There are many ways to have a romantic, fun, and healthy Valentine's Day.
Celebrate with healthy Valentine's meals
One of the most effective ways to protect your heart is to eat lots of healthy foods and avoid overeating the less healthy options.
"In recent history, fats have received a nasty name, however, we now tend to understand that omega-3 fatty acids are thought to be cardioprotective, while trans fats contribute to artery disease." says Soma Mandal, MD, a board certified specialist at Summit Medical group in Berkeley Heights, NJ. "I strongly suggest having one or 2 servings of fatty fish during the week."
Heart-healthy foods come from a wide variety of sources.
"A variety of types of foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts) have been combined to reduce the risk of heart disease, so a healthy diet should include these types of foods frequently, ideally daily", says Glenn Gaesser, Ph. .D., a faculty member within the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University.
Eating for heart health also suggests limiting foods that don't seem to be good for your heart. These include:
Saturated fat
Trans fat
Lots of interlayer sugar
Na high
Processed meats
Alcohol in excess (more than one drink a day)
There are many ways to include healthy foods in Valentine's Day celebrations.
1. Surprise your partner (or treat yourself!) With a healthy breakfast in bed.
"Leafy greens, tomatoes, avocados and whole wheat bread create avocado toast with spinach and tomato, a powerhouse of energy," says Gaesser.
Or choose a healthy breakfast masquerading as Valentine's Day degradation like a raspberry and mango parfait.
2. Warm things up in the room.
Turn food into fun by changing status with your love.
Try some new and healthy recipes like fish tacos with broccoli coleslaw.
Recreate the enduring scene of the woman and therefore the tramp with whole wheat pasta, marinara and turkey meatballs.
Incorporate healthy decisions about status changes into your Valentine's Day party.
3. Turn Valentine's Day health into a romantic gift for 2
Try a healthy war, a Valentine's Day classic, like chocolate-dipped strawberries and wine.
“Dark chocolate and wine are an excellent timely selection, as bittersweet chocolate has been shown to have helpful effects on vasculature health, and moderate alcohol consumption (about one glass of wine per day) has also been combined with heart health, ”explains Gaesser. "Strawberries are packed with heart-friendly vitamins and minerals as well as fiber, so dipping some in bittersweet chocolate is another good Valentine’s Day Chocolate Gifts ."