Nourishments—

Ready, Set, Glow — Foods And Supplements To Jump Start Your Heart

By Nancy K. Crevier

There are lots of ways to make your Valentine’s heart pound —  in a good way, that is. The right foods and supplements can strengthen the heart and libido so that the only kind of heart attack you get around Valentine’s Day, or any other day, for that matter, is the kind you get when your sweetheart walks into the room. And the only kind of heartburn you feel is triggered by the sight of your old flame, not the sight of a high-fat meal.

Valentine’s Day often means a sumptuous meal for two made up of rich, fatty foods and desserts with caloric counts in the triple digits. Luckily, two traditional Valentine’s treats — wine and chocolate — are high on the list of heart-healthy foods.

The flavanoid-rich antioxidants found in cocoa and dark chocolate turn the no-no of the candy box into a go-go, within reason, of course. Antioxidants reduce free radicals in the system that contribute to debilitating diseases, such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

New studies suggest that not only can modest amounts of dark chocolate prevent arteries from clogging, but the antioxidants may also contribute to the relaxation of blood vessels. Relaxed blood vessels mean better blood flow,  better blood flow means a healthy glow and a healthy heart.

Plan to serve wine to your Valentine? Reach for a dry red wine, such as a Cabernet or Pinot Noir. Red wines in particular are high in those vessel-clearing flavonoids that increase blood flow to your heart. One to two 4-ounce glasses of vino per day can round out a meal and put the roses back in your cheeks.

If “a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou beside me in the wilderness” is not your cup of tea, maybe a cup of tea is. Whether it is black tea, green tea or white tea, this beverage is also a superior source of antioxidants, strengthening the cardiovascular system and the entire immune system.

Other foods to keep the love of your life in tip-top, heart-healthy shape include whole grains of all kinds. Remember the oat bran craze? It was not so crazy, really; but rice or wheat bran are equally efficient in clearing out cholesterol.

Low fat dairy products, fresh fruits, vegetables (especially dark, leafy greens) and fish are other foods to incorporate into your daily lifestyle. Using monounsaturated oils such as olive, flaxseed, walnut, soy and canola in place of butter or margarine will make your heart jump with joy. The antioxidants contained in these unprocessed oils can aid in the decrease of atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty materials and plaque line the walls of the artery, ultimately impeding blood flow to the heart.

It could be that a special meal has put you in the ZZZ zone instead of the WHEEE zone, not exactly the way to wrap up the evening with your Valentine. Valerie Hawkes Hoffman of Sunrise Herb Farm in Bethel has just the remedy to wake you up.

“Cupid’s Arrow Romance Kit is made up of the number one best selling sex drive formula in the country,” she claims. “It works on the hormone levels. If you feel happier and more energetic, you feel more sexual,” she says.

The romance kit consists of an herbal tea, Sexualitea, combined with the herbal remedy Love Potion, which increases libido and desire, and the remedy Zip, which improves circulation and energy. The combination was featured in last year’s Redbook magazine just before Valentine’s Day and created a flurry of ordering unlike any Sunrise Herb Farm had seen before.

If your love life is already on fire, maybe just a boost to keep the ticker ticking is in order. Ms Hoffman suggests combining the remedies Italian Bee Juice and Healthy Heart if blood pressure issues or cholesterol levels are of concern. For a strong immune system overall, Ms Hoffman recommends Immune Zoom or Wellness Tonic.

“Our Wellness Tonic is really what the herb business is all about. People forget that prevention is key to health,” says Ms Hoffman.

All of the remedies from Sunrise Herb Farm are 100 percent herbal based. The tinctures are made fresh daily from organic, hand-pressed herbs.

“They are made the way wine is made,” Ms Hoffman says, “and the formula is absorbed [by the body] 90 percent.”

The herbal remedies are “absolutely safe” for anyone to take, says the certified herbalist, although she recommends people notify their physician when supplementing conventional drugs with herbs.

“You never want to just stop taking any medication,” she cautions.

The good news is that delivery for Sunrise Herb Farm products are but one day in the Newtown area. To order Cupid’s Arrow Romance Kit or any of the other “hearty” herbal remedies in time for this Valentine’s Day, visit www.SunriseHerbFarm.com. Wheee!

Last but not least, there’s a sweet treat everyone can indulge in to your heart’s content: pucker up at the end of the evening.

According to Jeanie Lerche Davis of WebMD medical news, kissing may boost the immune system. Sharing germs can strengthen the bodies natural defenses and a long, lingering smooch has meditative properties that create a calming aura.

What better way to satisfy your heart’s desire?

Chocolate Cherry Sauce

3 c dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz

1 c water

½ c honey

¼ c orange juice

1 tsp cinnamon

½ c dried tart cherries

1/3  c Hershey’s© Special Dark chocolate chips

 Whisk wine, water, honey, orange juice and cinnamon together in a medium saucepan.

Bring to a boil and boil for 5 or 6 minutes. Stir in cherries and continue boiling for another 5 to 7 minutes, until the sauce is reduced to a fairly thick consistency. Remove from heat and whisk in chips until the sauce is completely smooth.

Serve warm over poached pears or ice cream.