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Chocolate, wine and romance aren't just the quickest ways to your warm your true love's heart. A University of Michigan Health System cardiologist says these Valentine's Day traditions can also protect your mate's ticker against disease.
"The spirit of Valentine's Day, with intimacy, a little wine, some chocolate, bringing home flowers or sweets, is a tradition we should follow throughout the year. It's one day of celebration that we should continue on a daily basis," says Melvyn Rubenfire, M.D., the University's director of Preventive Cardiology.
Don't feel guilty if you bring home a box of chocolates for your sweetheart as part of your Valentine's Day celebration this year. "Chocolate has good antioxidants that are cardiac- or vascular-protective," explains Rubenfire.
These antioxidants — also known as flavonoids — are also found in fruits, vegetables, tea, and red and white wine, and they reduce the risk of blood clots and heart disease.
| VALENTINE'S DAY
RECIPE |
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Ingredients:
1 ½ cups dark or semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups or one 19-ounce can of cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained and rinsed
4 eggs or 1 cup of egg substitute
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon powdered sugar plus 1 teaspoon for garnish
½ cup fresh raspberries (optional)
9-inch nonstick heart-shaped or round cake pan
(Why chickpeas? They're delicious. Using legumes instead of flour adds fiber and protein and reduces unhealthful spikes in blood sugar.)
Directions:
1. Put the chocolate in a small bowl and melt in the microwave for two minutes on medium power.
2. In a blender or food processor, combine the chickpeas and eggs.
3. Add the 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, baking powder and chocolate and process until smooth.
4. Pour the batter into your cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
5. Allow the cake to cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar and fresh raspberries.
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The amount of flavonoids in a particular chocolate depends on processing. White chocolate has the fewest flavonoids, while dark chocolate has the most. Rubenfire says it isn't clear whether milk or dark chocolate is better for you, "but there are benefits to chocolate that go beyond its good taste."
In addition to protecting the heart, chocolate also may alleviate coughing. A recent study in England found that cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, contains the flavonoid theobromide, and that theobromide was nearly three times more effective in stopping persistent coughs than codeine.
While there are many potential benefits that result from eating chocolate, there is a limit to how much we should eat. "Just like most foods, eating chocolate in moderation can have benefits, but it's full of calories from fats and sugars, so we've got to be very careful not to eat too much," explains Rubenfire.
As you cozy up to your loved one with a glass of wine or champagne this Valentine's Day, take heart. Wine and other alcoholic beverages can also have benefits for your cardiovascular health.
In particular, wine is a good choice because of its high antioxidant content. "Moderate consumption of wine is pretty well demonstrated to be healthy for us and, of course, makes us feel good," Rubenfire says.
Alcoholic beverages increase the amount of the "good" cholesterol, or high-density lipoproteins — HDL cholesterol — in the blood.
"All alcohols produce them to a similar degree. As you raise the levels of HDL cholesterol, the risk of heart attacks and strokes can decrease," says Rubenfire.
Still, drinking alcoholic beverages should be done in moderation. To reap the benefits, limit your intake to an average of one serving per day for women and two per day for men. A serving is equal to:
- 12 ounces of beer
- 4 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits
- 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits
Drinking to excess can counteract the positive effects of alcohol and actually increase the risk of accidental deaths, alcoholism, liver disease (including cirrhosis), obesity, stroke, some cancers, high blood pressure, heart muscle disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, irregular heart beat and even sudden death.
According to a study published by the American Heart Association, drinking an average of three or more alcoholic beverages per day over the long-term is associated with these increased risks. Alcohol use should not be viewed as a way to prevent or treat heart and vascular disease and should be avoided during pregnancy.
"The intimacy that one can share with a significant other is very important to good health — cardiovascular and otherwise. Longevity and a feeling of wellness are promoted by the Valentine's Day spirit," says Rubenfire.
There's good evidence to show that regular sexual activity is beneficial for both men and women. Research has shown that, for men, having sex at least three times per week cuts the risk of stroke and heart attack in half. In addition, a satisfying, emotionally intimate relationship seems to be a key ingredient in our overall health.
"It's very important to realize that support systems and social relationships are crucial to our wellness. We've all heard of couples who are together for many, many years, and when one of them dies, the other dies shortly thereafter," he says.
This can be explained, says Rubenfire, by evidence suggesting that people who are ill but who have a good support system through a spouse, friends or family live longer than people who don't.
- Give a box of chocolate-covered strawberries to your valentine instead of solid chocolates. They're lower in fat and calories.
- For those who prefer not to drink alcoholic beverages, mix your favorite fresh fruit juice with sparkling water to toast your romantic evening.
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