Feel good this Valentine’s Day
Love not only makes the world go around it makes us all feel so good and that’s a fact!
Champagne and chocolates Science says you cannot go wrong with these traditional gifts
Ever wondered why traditional lover’s gifts like champagne and chocolate stay so popular? The traditions are backed up by some hard scientific research – they both make us feel so good.
On both sides of the Atlantic scientists agree that champagne – in fact all sparkling white wines - are good for you.
As far back as 2013 a study published by the Reading University said three glasses a week can improve short-term memory and similar studies at the University of Columbia said the type of proteins found in the wine from the grapes, yeast and bacteria also help. Because of the mineral rich soils in the champagne producing region in France, there are good levels of magnesium, potassium and zinc so what better multi-vitamin could you have? Those three minerals help create that lovely lift you have with your first sips of champagne along with H2CO3 .
This is what makes bubbly so bubbly, and gives us a buzz; all sparkling wines can make you feel more drunk then ordinary wine by moving the alcohol more quickly and efficiently into your system.
Chocolate
Dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70 per cent and above helps the body release endorphins, tryptophan, serotonin and phenethylamine which all make us feel good.
There has been a great deal of research that says this type of chocolate delivers a nice bouquet of chemicals that help to calm and soothe us. When we fall in love oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, known as the happy hormones all set to work and our brain releases dopamine, serotonin levels rise and we also produce oxytocin. We all get told ‘not to let our heart rule our heads’ but once these all come into play the head is ruling the heart, leading to the other old saying ‘love is blind’ – because with the happy hormones in charge you just overlook any negative thoughts.
Harvard no less says there are cardiovascular benefits so anything that is good for the heart, especially on St Valentine’s Day is alright with us!
The language of flowers How good is your floriography? All the flowers we send have a secret message
Flowers have always been used as symbols and in the centuries before we had all those online dating apps and texting a well-chosen posy could let someone know your affections. This symbolism became very popular during the romantic revival in Victorian times and the language of flowers or floriography became a popular pastime.
Beats swiping right on Tinder any day!
The red rose is THE symbol of love and desire and known around the world.
White roses say charm and innocence; red and white together say unity. Pink are for perfect happiness, pale pink for grace and dark pink say thankfulness.
This might explain why there are so many white roses in wedding bouquets – but go easy on the gypsophila it means fertility which is fine for a wedding but perhaps not for Valentine’s Day. Peonies say a happy marriage so pop some of those into an arrangement if your Valentine’s Day is going to include a wedding proposal. A thornless rose says love at first sight. Carnations tucked into a bouquet shout out fascination with women and love in general and pink ones also whisper ‘I’ll never forget you’. If your Valentine Day flowers arrive with roots – as a planted arrangement - white heather says wishes will come true and purple heather says admiration.
A bunch of sweet peas says blissful pleasure and tuberose an ingredient found in many perfumes says dangerous pleasure, so if you want your Valentine Day to end very, very, well then a trip to the perfume counter might be in order.
The red rose is THE symbol of love and desire and known around the world.