Valentine’s Day and chocolate have been linked for some time now, but there really hasn’t been any definitive explanation for just why the delicious confection and the day of love seem to go hand in hand. The average American eats 11 pounds of chocolate every year, a significant percentage of which is enjoyed around Valentine’s Day. The reason people are known to enjoy and crave chocolate may be connected to its chemical components. Chocolate has been known to affect mood in many ways. It contains 380 known chemicals, triggering a host of responses in the brain. Chocolate can trigger the production of opioids, which are chemicals, such as those found in opium, that produce a feeling of well- being (euphoria). Eating chocolate then may make a person feel better, which is why Falling in Love with chocolate is often a turn-to comfort snack. Chocolate also may work like THC, the chemical components in marijuana, extending the feeling of being “high” or well-being. Chocolate can also increase blood pressure and blood-sugar levels, attributing to feelings of alertness. The caffeine in chocolate also acts as a stimulant. However, the reason chocolate may be snatched up come Valentine’s Day is that chocolate appears to contain phenylalanine, the same chemical that is produced by the brain when people fall in love. Doctors think that eating chocolate creates a temporary “love high.” For those gifting chocolate for Valentine’s Day, consider dark chocolate, which is also high in antioxidants. This chocolate is among the healthier varieties in which to indulge. MARIE’S JEWELRY Sunbeam Park, 2457 East Main St., Waterbury • www.MariesJewelryonline.com 203-755-GOLD (4653) Express your love with a beautiful Chamilia bracelet, created just for her. Select from hundreds of intricately designed beads in combinations of 14k gold, sterling silver, crystal Swarovski Elements, Italian Murano glass and an exclusive Disney ® Collection. From the heart. CITIZEN’S NEWS Friday, February 4, 2011 15
Transcript
Valentine’s Day and chocolate have beenlinked for some time now, but there reallyhasn’t been any definitive explanation for just why the delicious confection and the day oflove seem to go hand in hand.
The average American eats 11 pounds ofchocolate every year, a significant percentage of which is enjoyed around Valentine’s Day.The reason people are known to enjoy andcrave chocolate may be connected to itschemical components.
Chocolate has been known to affect mood in many ways. It contains 380 known chemicals, triggering a host of responses in the brain.Chocolate can trigger the production ofopioids, which are chemicals, such as thosefound in opium, that produce a feeling of well-being (euphoria). Eating chocolate then maymake a person feel better, which is why
Falling in Love with chocolate is often a turn-to comfort snack.Chocolate also may work like THC, thechemical components in marijuana, extending the feeling of being “high” or well-being.
Chocolate can also increase blood pressureand blood-sugar levels, attributing to feelingsof alertness. The caffeine in chocolate alsoacts as a stimulant.
However, the reason chocolate may besnatched up come Valentine’s Day is thatchocolate appears to contain phenylalanine,the same chemical that is produced by thebrain when people fall in love. Doctors thinkthat eating chocolate creates a temporary“love high.”
For those gifting chocolate for Valentine’sDay, consider dark chocolate, which is alsohigh in antioxidants. This chocolate is among the healthier varieties in which to indulge.
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16 Friday, February 4, 2011CITIZEN’S NEWS
No holiday is more synonymous withromance than Valentine’s Day. EveryFebruary 14 couples express their feel-ings for one another with candies, flowers and a host of other romantic traditions.
For couples who want to cozy up onthe couch this Valentine’s Day, the fol-lowing movies make ideal choices to set a romantic mood.
• Casablanca (1942) – Perhaps nomovie of the 20th century is more fitting for Valentine’s Day than this HumphreyBogart classic. In the midst of World War II, world-weary nightclub owner RickBlaine (Bogart) finds himself in the mid-dle of a love triangle with his ex-lover(Ingrid Bergman) and her husband (PaulHeinreid) in French-occupied Morocco.
• Out of Africa (1985) – A seven-time Oscar winner, including Best Picture,this acclaimed film tells the tale of alargely abandoned young wife (MerylStreep) who falls in love with a free-spir-ited big-game hunter (Robert Redford) in 20th century colonial Kenya.
Valentine’s DayMovie Guide
• From Here to Eternity (1953) –Another classic, this features the immor-tal scene of Burt Lancaster and DeborahKerr passionately kissing in the sand asthe waves crash over them.
• Roman Holiday (1953) – PrincessAnn (Audrey Hepburn) is bored andmanages to escape her entourage ofguardians while visiting Rome. There she meets American journalist Joe Bradley(Gregory Peck), whose goal of an exclu-sive interview soon becomes a romanticadventure for both.
• The Princess Bride (1987) –Couples who like some laughs with theirromance will appreciate this Rob Reinerfairy tale with a comedic twist. Buttercup (Robin Wright) is beautiful but doomed,chosen to marry an evil prince (ChrisSarandon). But a smitten stable boy(Cary Elwes) returns from sea to rescuehis beloved. A nearly instant classic, thefilm features hilarious performances from the likes of Billy Crystal, MandyPatinkin and the late pro wrestler Andrethe Giant.
Love is in the air; the stores are decked out in red and pink splendor; and florists’ vans are causing traffic tie-ups on neigh-borhood streets. Marketing professionalswould have people believe thatValentine’s Day is the only day to bepunctuated with feelings of admirationand affection – and marked by the shar-ing of expensive gifts.
While there are certainly scores ofhappy couples eager to make dinner dates and await bouquets of roses, there areample individuals who will be spendingValentine’s Day alone and wonderingwhether to feel blue or buoyant.Valentine’s Day isn’t just about couplesin love -- it’s a day for anyone to expresshis or her feelings.
Spending Valentine’s Day alone? Hereare some ways to avoid the pitfalls fromthe pressures of this day.
• If you recently experienced a loss ofa mate, take the time to grieve andremember this person. You don’t have topretend it isn’t a hard day. Enjoy the sup-port of others.
• Don’t define yourself by relationship status. Single or part of a couple, whoyou are with doesn’t illustrate who youare.
• Get together with people who love
you, like friends and family members.Make plans to spend the day together.
• If you don’t like being single, useValentine’s Day as a day to figure outyour path to a relationship. Don’t beafraid to go out on dates. There areplenty of other single individuals outthere looking for a match.
• If you are used to dining out, orderin on Valentine’s Day to avoid the hordes of couples canoodling over dinner andchampagne at area restaurants.
• Relish in the fact that you’ll be sav-ing a lot of money. Prices on flowers,chocolates, gifts, dinners, etc. are gen-erally marked up to capitalize onValentine’s Day.
• If you have several single friends,consider hosting a Valentine’s Day party. Do themed drinks and snacks and enjoythe night together. If the idea sounds like too much work, get together and go to afun restaurant that probably would be too loud and boisterous for intimate dining.
• Spend the day giving and sharingyour talents with other people, perhapsby volunteering or spending time withseniors at a care facility.
• Make a list of all the people who con-tinually make you smile. Call them up
A Singleton’s Survival Guidefor Valentine’s Day
and resolve to get together at the earliestconvenience.
• Treat yourself to something nice. Ifyou’ve been eyeing that new tech toy or a pair of shoes, go out and splurge on your-self for Valentine’s Day.
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