DON'T WISH FOR IT. WORK FOR IT.

February is "Heart Healthy" month and also the month of love!  Celebrate by including heart healthy foods and activities into your life today.  Whether happily single or happily attached follow some of these tips, and not only will you keep your heart healthy, but it will also put you in the mood for LOVE.

Have some dark chocolate.  Chocolate has been proven to help protect the cardiovascular system and prevent clogged arteries. Dark chocolate is not only low in sugar and rich in taste, it is also a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Eating dark chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins resulting in pleasurable feelings of reduced stress and overall well being.  Dark chocolate contains a chemical believed to produce a feeling of “being in love. Buy some dark chocolate today for yourself or a loved one.             

Drink a glass of red wine. In moderation, red wine can help keep your heart healthy.  Red wine contains an antioxidant called resveratrol. This antioxidant can increase levels of “good” cholesterol to protect against artery damage.  Alcohol also lowers inhibitions and helps to put you in the mood.  So pour yourself a glass of red wine tonight and get busy!

Have sex. Sex not only burns calories ( You can burn approximately 150 calories per half hour of foreplay/intercourse ) and puts you in a good mood, but it can also protect your heart.  Research has found that having sex twice or more a week has helped to reduce the risk of heart attacks. 

Get/Give a massage.  Massages help to reduce stress, lower heart rate and lower your blood pressure which can lead to improved heart health.  Treat yourself to a professional massage or give a massage to your loved one instead.

Go out and be active.  Your heart is a muscle and you need to keep if moving.  Being active and exercising either by yourself or with a loved one will keep your heart healthy.  Exercise makes the heart work more efficiently during exercise and at rest. Also, working out can help build self esteem and make you more confident, which can lead to an improved love life.