Adeela Asghar | Contributor
Featured image: Support in any relationship is important, whether that be in your career or your health. | Courtesy of Sasin Tipchai
With Valentine’s Day feelings in the air, couples are looking forward to celebrating the holiday and expressing their love for one another. While this day provides a chance to make your loved ones feel special, it also carries a responsibility to be there for one another, which means taking care of ourselves physically, so we can actually be there for one another.
Often times, our busy lives make us neglect our health and fitness.
Social stressors such as Valentine’s Day can cause profound changes to an individual’s well-being, influencing their emotional state and creating emotional responses to food. As hard as it may be to pass up on the rush received from a box of chocolates or some self-indulgent ice cream flavours, it’s always best to avoid junk food.
These foods that provide that “rush” are known as aphrodisiacs. An aphrodisiac is an agent—such as a food or drug—that increases sexual desire. These foods include oysters, chili peppers, chocolate, cherries, and honey.
These foods have a reputation for stimulating love and bringing about fertility, as well as increasing endorphins—a feel-good chemical in the brain that causes increased heartrate and perspiration—which mimic feelings of attraction and arousal.
When following healthy eating habits, sweet and processed foods don’t necessarily have to be cut out entirely. For those with an insatiable sweet tooth, it might be more realistic to reduce the frequency with which these foods are ingested, as well as the quantity.
Take some days to detoxify the body, and give the stomach a break from loading up on large portions of food. For example, research shows that a detox diet eliminates highly-processed foods that have solid fats and added sugar.
It’s important to have a routine in place, ensuring regular physical activity. Hitting the gym isn’t always necessary; brisk walking or jogging with a partner is also a viable option, and is a great way to spend some quality time together as a couple.
For instance, research shows that voluntary exercise increases resilience to stress, and improves overall well-being.
Maintaining a fixed meal and exercise routine is important for improving one’s metabolism, as is encouraging a partner to follow through with these same habits.
Of course, breaking the monotony is important on occasion, but making that a habit can be unhealthy. While many enjoy a nice meal out, the aim should be to eat at least one nutritious meal together every day. Motivating one another to live a healthy lifestyle is one of the best things to do for and with a partner.
So, be sure to make this Valentine’s Day special with these health vows, and ensure a happy life overall.
