| Valentine's Day Health Odds and Ends |
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| by Charles Stuart Platkin | |
| Sunday, 10 February 2008 | |
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[ DietDetective.com Podcast: Listen to the podcast here and subscribe here free if you have iTunes ] [ To Download This Podcast as an MP3 file Right Click Here. Select "Save Target As" and Save on Your Desktop. ] Chocolate Bottom Line
Is chocolate good for you? Hmm, not the way you probably eat it — with all kinds of added ingredients, including loads of sugar (and fat) to compensate for the bitterness of cocoa and to enhance the flavor. Yes, chocolate has flavanols, but the truth is that almost all plant foods in their natural states have antioxidants that can help fight off free radicals. And most health professionals argue that the high calories of chocolate offset any potential health gain. Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, such as 70 percent (it tells you on the package), is the most likely to offer the heart-health benefits you’re looking for. But you should still eat it as a treat, not medicine. Here are a few chocolate gifts that are lower in calories. - Metromint Chocolate Mint Water — just pure water, cocoa essence and real mint — nothing else. And it has no calories. (five-bottle sampler pack $8, www.metromint.com) - Vitalicious VitaMuffin Hearts – 12 deep-chocolate heart-shaped muffins that are only 100 calories each. ($32, www.vitalcious.com) - Gayle's Miracles Perfect Chocolate Truffles – created by a nutritionist, each truffle is only 30 calories. (18-piece box $30, www.gaylesmiracles.com) Alternative Gifts for Healthy Living Do your Valentine’s Day gifts always have to be flowers or chocolate? Here are a few other ideas: - Massage: Find a licensed massage therapist in your area by checking the state licensing board. Then pick your style: Swedish, sports, deep tissue, shiatsu, Thai, etc. - Spa day or spa getaway: Check out Spafinder.com, which lists 4,000 spas. - E-mail a free heart-healthy booklet: Send your girlfriend, wife or the woman you love The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women, published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). It includes statistics, quizzes and charts, and it's free: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/hhw/hdbk_wmn.pdf - Personal trainer sessions: Give a 10-pack of one-on-one sessions with a trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise, the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Strength and Conditioning Association. - Gym membership for two: Couples who work out together help one another stay motivated, so they tend to lose more weight and stay healthier. - Cook a healthy, romantic dinner: Pick a healthy menu, buy the ingredients, prepare the meal and create the setting — all very fun, romantic and bonding. How Many Calories Does Sex Burn? Here are a few popular Valentine’s Day treats and how much sex (or walking) it would take to burn them off (in minutes). You just might be surprised by the amount you would need to do. Food: Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries Food: Russell Stover Dark Truffle Food: Hershey’s Almond Kiss Food: Chocolate-Covered Cherries Food: Godiva Chocolate Liqueur Food: Chocolate Martini Food: Russell Stover Butternut Crunch Food: Caviar Food: Champagne Calories: 600 Walk: 155 Minutes Sexual activity (vigorous effort): 339 Minutes Sexual activity (moderate effort): 392 Minutes Sexual activity (passive, light effort, kissing, hugging): 511 Minutes Take a Healthy-Heart Test It’s heart health month, so do something for your heart and take this test. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital studied blood samples from almost 25,000 women ages 45 and older to see what risk factors led to heart attack or stroke more than 10 years later. From this the researchers developed the Reynolds Risk Score. It measures traditional risk factors like age, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. To take the test, go to www.reynoldsriskscore.org and make sure you know your systolic blood pressure (the “top” number), total cholesterol, HDL ("good" cholesterol) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein scores. Exercise More If you’re looking to increase your “love” factor, get out there and exercise more. There’s convincing research to indicate that exercise and increased physical activity improve your sex life. For instance, an article appearing in the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality reported that those who exercise often feel better about themselves, believe that they’re more sexually attractive, and enjoy sex more. And another article in the Annals of Internal Medicine associates physical activity with a lower risk for erectile dysfunction. It all makes sense, because when you exercise you feel better and have more self-confidence, and that translates to increased satisfaction. Have Good Scents Researcher Alan Hirsch, M.D., director of The Smell & Taste Treatment & Research Foundation in Chicago, has found that the combined odors of lavender and pumpkin pie had the greatest positive effect on sexual arousal in men, increasing it by 40 percent. The next most effective was a combination of black licorice and doughnuts, which increased arousal by 31.5 percent. As for women — get this — Good & Plenty candy (sugar-coated licorice) and cucumber increased arousal by 13 percent, and lavender and pumpkin pie by 11 percent. Stay away from charcoal barbecue meat and cherries, which decrease a women’s desire by 14 percent and 19 percent respectively. What About Aphrodisiacs? “Food and sex are the two things humans need for survival. But they also help us to tune into sensuality — the pleasures of stimulating our senses with sights, tastes, smells, sounds and touch,” says Amy Reiley, author of Fork Me, Spoon Me: The Sensual Cookbook (Life of Reiley, 2006). However, not all food fits the bill. “Look for foods that have fragrant spices, creamy consistency and visual allure. Really heat things up by serving finger foods, feed a bite to your lover and let the seduction begin,” says Diane Brown, author of The Seduction Cookbook (Innova Publishing, 2005). Chilies, curries and other spicy foods have been known as somewhat effective aphrodisiacs because of the body’s reaction, which includes increased heart rate and sweating. Other edibles that make the “love connection” include ginseng, figs and oysters — apparently, because they resemble genitalia. And there’s always chocolate, which contains phenylethylamine, a chemical linked to mood enhancement and increased energy. According to Reiley, the most promising of the bunch: oysters. They are a “great source of zinc (good for blood flow) and lean protein. Also evidence that they have the potential to raise sexual hormone levels. Chili peppers raise body temp, flush cheeks, make lips swell and look seductive. Ginger also raises body temp, makes lips swell, tongue tingle and aids in digestion.” Valentine's Day Recipes Hot Honey Nuts — from Amy Reiley, author of Fork Me, Spoon Me: The Sensual Cookbook (Life of Reiley, 2006) Nuts are superfoods when it comes to enhancing sexual health. Many varieties of nuts contain high concentrations of zinc, which is essential for blood flow. And, of course, nuts are a primary source of protein. If you reach back into your brain for that little nugget from seventh-grade health class, you’ll recall that protein is the building block of energy. (And who said middle school was a waste of time?) 1/4 cup honey 2 cups mixed nuts 1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes 1 tablespoon butter Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in a small saucepan while slowly dribbling the honey and the chili flakes into the steamy pot. Boil gently for 2 minutes, being careful not to scorch your honey. Pour honey over your nuts on a foil-lined baking sheet. Fold up the edges of the foil to prevent your sweet honey from oozing all over the oven. (Warning: The honey mixture will be very hot. Do not touch anything with your hands, or you’ll find yourself sucking your own finger the rest of the night.) Roast in oven for 8-10 minutes and flip nuts halfway through. Take your nuts from the tray and allow them to cool for 20 minutes before eating. Clean the tray immediately, or the sticky residue will be with you forever. Fiery Chile Chicken in Lettuce Wraps — excerpted from The Seduction Cookbook: Culinary Creations for Lovers (Innova Publishing, 2005) by Diane Brown Take chicken married with the blood-pumping fire of chili powder, fresh cilantro (in ancient times a symbol of harmony in relationships) and onion (attributed to restoring virility). Then wrap it up in an easy-to-eat package of bibb lettuce, and you’ve got a perfect dish for seductive alfresco dining. 2 rotisserie cooked chicken breasts, skin removed, shredded Salt and pepper to season 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 clove fresh garlic, minced 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon brown sugar ¼ teaspoon chili powder 1 pinch cayenne pepper 1 pinch allspice 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, leaves removed from stems ¼ cup red onion, wedge cut 6 large bibb lettuce leaves, cleaned and dried Combine cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, cayenne pepper and allspice in a small bowl. In a sauté pan, heat olive oil to a sizzle. Add garlic and cook until lightly browned. Add pre-cooked slivers of chicken. Quickly toss with spice combination. Cool chicken mixture and hold in refrigerator. Place chicken filling into bibb lettuce cup. Top each cup with red onion slices and fresh cilantro leaves. Fold over into compact roll. Serve cold. _____________________________________ CHARLES STUART PLATKIN is a nutrition and public health advocate, founder and editor of DietDetective.com, the health and fitness network and author of The Diet Detective's Calorie Bargain Bible (Simon & Schuster, 2007). Copyright 2008 by Charles Stuart Platkin. All rights reserved. Sign up for the free Diet Detective newsletter and iTunes podcast at www.DietDetective.com Bookmark:            Trackback(0)
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 16 February 2008 ) |
Valentine’s Day is coming, which means chocolates, gifts and an assortment of other goodies. Below is a collection of odds and ends to help you and your partner have a healthy, enhanced celebration. Chocolate Bottomline, Alternative Gifts, Calories Burning Sex, V-Day Recipes, Good Scents, and Aphrodisiacs.
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