The Health Blog

During Valentines day or the heart’s season, the one food we all think of is chocolate. Indeed, this is one of the healthy foods you could give your loved ones this Valentines Day.

Recent researches reported that cocoa and other chocolates may keep high blood pressure down, your blood flowing and your heart healthy. Thus, eating flavonoid-rich foods will reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

One study found that a substance in cocoa helps the body process nitric oxide (NO) which is a compound critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure. Another study found that flavonols in cocoa prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries, and make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots.

A bottle of red wine is also a good choice. Red wines contain antioxidants, which act like as protective shield, preventing the oxidation process whereby reactive particles known as “free radicals” cause damage to healthy cells. For the moderate drinker, drinking one to two glasses of wine daily, the antioxidants in red wine offer some protection against heart disease.

Good choices of food for your Valentines dinner include low-fat protein choices, unsaturated fats, foods high in Omega 3, and high fiber foods.

So for a health Valentines day date, give your loved one a box of chocolate, invite him/her over a candlelit dinner, drink some red wine, and eat nutritious foods.