Chocolates for Love Month

It was King Henry VII of England who declared February 14 as the Valentine’s Day in 1537. With this, the entire world joins the celebration according to their tradition.

To this day, there are more than $1 billion of chocolates bought during Valentine’s Day in US alone. There are about 70% of those living in US who buy flowers during Valentine’s Day are men and 27% of them are women. Red roses are believed to be the flower of love due to its color which signifies for the romantic feelings.  Hence, there are about more than 100 million roses, and mostly are red roses, are sold during the three-day celebration of Valentine’s Day  -  in US alone. Another best selling item during Valentine’s Day is Valentine’s cards where there are about 145 million cars are sent in US every Valentine’s Day.

The records are in USA alone. Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Mexico, Italy, Denmark, just to name a few, also celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Flowers represent strong feelings of one, but why do we give chocolates during Valentine’s Day?

It was in 1800’s when the doctors would advise their brokenhearted patients to have chocolates to appease their “pain.” These days, there are many women who find comfort in chocolates when they experience heartbreaks.

But why chocolates during Valentine’s Day? “Let us count the ways…”

I believe the reason is in tradition. Since the period of Aztec Indians, chocolates are considered as the “foods of the gods.” Christopher Columbus himself loved the chocolates in Americas that he brought them as a present to Queen Isabella of Spain (aside from the gold he brought along). Over time, chocolate become the favorite of the people.

It was the Cadbury brothers who built a shop in England in 1800. They baked and sold chocolates to ordinary citizens. It was in 1861 when Richard Cadbury made the first heart-shaped box for the Valentine’s Day. It was then believed that it was here when the link between the Valentine’s Day and chocolates started.

Do you know that if women make most of the purchases of chocolates for about 75% within one year, men make the most purchases of chocolates for about 75% during Valentine’s Day!

Get Your Sleep!

Sleep is SO important for your body! Without the proper amount of sleep each night, you can be affected in more ways than you think!  We came across six great reasons not to skip out on sleep from our friends at Harvard Health. Check out that they had to say!

The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests six reasons to get enough sleep:

1. Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
2. Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
3. Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.
4. Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
5. Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
6. Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.