Valentine’s Day means hearts and flowers….but to many it means CHOCOLATE! It is interesting to me that the heart-healthy benefits of chocolate have only recently been touted, yet the romantics knew that chocolate was a way to a woman’s heart. I have already espoused the health benefits of dark chocolate in a previous post (see mmm Dark Chocolate) but today I celebrate the sheer pleasure of it. Go ahead and indulge!

While we are on the subject hearts and flowers, let me remind you that it is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in America. If you haven’t had your blood pressure or cholesterol checked recently, now is the time to make that appointment. Other numbers you should know are your triglyceride levels, c-reactive proteins which measure cell inflammation, and your BMI. Simple lifestyle changes can affect these numbers in a positive way. Keep reading my blog and I will have tips on how those changes can be made. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!