Why is February Heart Health Month? It makes perfect sense. Valentine’s Day equals hearts, which equals heart health awareness. But, there is a way to enjoy Valentines’s Day without hurting your heart!
On Valentine’s Day, there will be plenty of gifts, dinners, and roses. There will also be mountains of candy, sweets, and desserts everywhere you turn. Then, right after the holiday, we start talking about watching fats, keeping cholesterol down, and avoiding red meat to protect our hearts. But here’s what we don’t talk about enough: the sugar.
How Sugar Harms Your Heart
Sugar can significantly increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, inflammation, and obesity. According to the American Heart Association, excess sugar intake is directly linked to cardiovascular problems.
Here’s exactly how sugar damages your heart:
It promotes inflammation that stresses your blood vessels and heart muscle. It increases blood pressure, forcing your heart to pump harder than it should. It leads to weight gain, putting extra strain on your cardiovascular system. It worsens cholesterol levels by raising LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides while lowering HDL (“good” cholesterol). It damages blood vessels, making your arteries stiffer and less able to dilate properly.
The Hidden Problem with Valentine’s Candy
The other downside? Most conventional candy contains unhealthy hydrogenated fats. These are the fats that actually damage your heart—not the healthy fats from nuts, avocados, or olive oil.
How to Enjoy Valentine’s Day Without the Damage
I know the thought of giving up sugar for Valentine’s Day doesn’t sound pleasant. We all love those sweet treats, and they’ll be everywhere. So what can you do to treat your heart right while still enjoying the day?
Start with portion control. Enjoy some treats, just eat less. Don’t demolish the entire four-person dessert or polish off the whole box of chocolates. Have a piece or two, savor a few bites, and move on.
Choose healthier alternatives. We carry several options at The Only Earth:
–Lily’s candy bars (sugar-free, sweetened with stevia)
–Queen Bee Honey Moons
-Peanut butter cups made with better ingredients
–YumEarth Gummy Hearts (organic, no artificial dyes)
Make your own desserts using heart-friendly ingredients like:
-Cocoa or cacao powder
–Raw honey
-Stevia
–Coconut oil
-Dates-Raw nuts
-Fresh ground peanut butter
Your heart works hard for you every single day. Enjoy this Valentine’s Day without hurting your heart. Show it some love by making smarter choices about sugar. You can enjoy Valentine’s Day without hurting your heart in the process.
Stop by and let us help you find better Valentine’s treats that won’t hurt your heart.
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