5 Healthy Ways to Enjoy Valentine’s Day

Chocolate and roses? More than any other holiday, those two staples conjure up Valentine’s Day. Studies show that as this mid-February day approaches, roses and chocolates are evaluated more positively than at other times. ^[1]

Roses were first cultivated in Asia about 5,000 years ago. Since Roman times, they have been associated with the hallmarks of Valentine’s Day: Love, beauty, purity, and passion. ^[2]

Chocolate carries a long, prestious history, too. The Maya considered this the “Food of the Gods.” In 1753, the Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus named the cocoa plant Theobroma cacao. The Latin name Theobroma, in fact, literally means “food of the Gods.” ^[3]

Some Types of Chocolate are Healthier Than Others

Dark chocolate, which is higher in cocoa solids than milk chocolate, provides more minerals and antioxidants than other types of chocolate.

Originally introduced in human nutrition as a medicinal product, dark chocolate was consumed as liquid, rather than the gourmet edible that we know today. Most of the benefits of dark chocolate are derived from antioxidants called flavonoids, which help support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, heart health, and more.^[4]

Today, manufacturers have capitalized on dark chocolate’s health glow. The amount of antioxidants in dark chocolate depends on many factors, including quality and processing methods. Many types of dark chocolate contain high amounts of added sugar, which help reduce some of its bitterness but compromises your health in the process. Some research shows that the benefits of dark chocolate, such as normalizing blood pressure, comes from cocoa without added sugar, but not with added sugar. ^[5]

We combined all of the health benefits of dark chocolate without the sugar and other nasty ingredients in our Max Coco Bar. This delicious, coconut-filled bar coated in dark chocolate satisfies your sweet tooth while supporting your overall health. Max Coco Bar is perfect for keto diets, too!

Create A Delicious, Decadent Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day isn’t always the healthiest holiday. Impossible-to-resist heart-shaped chocolates tempt you throughout the day. If you dine out for dinner, you’re bombarded with crowds, noise, and a subpar meal that usually includes processed, sugary foods and a sugar-loaded dessert.

This year, keep the holiday romance but skip out on these health hijackers. When you enjoy foods from our Core or Advanced Plans, you provide your body the nutrients to maintain your healthy weight, steady energy, and libido.

Start your day right, with our Raspberry Smoothie. This simple, sweet, and healthy smoothie combines raspberries with our Grass-Fed Whey Protein to keep you full, focused, with no cravings all morning.

Continue steadying your chocolate cravings with our Buffalo Chicken Wrap for lunch, which provides grab-and-go portability. Whether you’re working from home or out and about, these wraps ensure you’re not tempted for something sugary.

For dinner, our Fancy Salmon will wow your Valentine. This decadent fish dish provides the flavor and deliciousness of a restaurant recipe, without the pricey markup. Salmon is rich in two omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which support a healthy mood and much more.

Bring in other healthy foods that help you get in the mood, too. Studies show that onions enhance testosterone levels in men. ^[6] Other libido-boosting foods for men and women include oysters, avocado, and strawberries. ^[7]

There’s no need to neglect dessert on Valentine’s Day, but neither do you need to indulge in something that will put you in a sugar coma a few hours later. (Talk about killing the mood!) Our Strawberry Cheesecake Fat Bombs, made with organic butter and cream cheese, make a decadent alternative to ice cream and a satisfying end to your meal.

However you indulge, go easy on the alcohol. While one glass of red wine might enhance the evening’s pleasure, too much can kill the mood in more ways than one! ^[8]

**5 Ways to Add that Extra Oomph This Valentines Day**

Romance aside, if your New Year’s Resolutions have let you down, think about Valentine’s Day as the perfect day to reset those goals.

While February is frigid in many parts of the world, the month also offers the promise of spring around the corner. Think of these five strategies as a way to create a healthy foundation for Valentine’s Day that also paves the path for upcoming warmer weather.

Get your fitness on. Think about the after-effect of a great workout. You felt confident, stronger, and more focused, right? Even a small amount of regular exercise can also dramatically improve sexual functioning in men and women. ^[9] In one study, regular exercise improved sexual satisfaction in women by supporting heart health, a positive mood, confidence, a healthy body image, and more.^[10] Our Max T3 program gives you an intense, full-body workout in just 12 minutes, in the comfort of your home. That’s less time than it takes to find a parking place at your favorite restaurant on Valentine’s Day!
Find healthy ways to de-stress. Stress doesn’t take a holiday! Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to create new habits that lower stress levels. How about a comedy or romantic comedy? Laughter can impact chemical changes within the body, potentially lowering stress levels and more. ^[11] Learn 16 ways to relieve stress here.
Hit the bedroom. Getting a great night’s sleep guarantees that you’ll have a more focused, productive tomorrow. Here’s a novel approach to sleep: Studies show that orgasms can help you sleep better when you have one before bed. While a partner provides the most benefit, orgasms achieved through self-stimulation can also improve sleep. ^[12]
Take your nutrients. Don’t neglect the critical nutrients that your body needs to thrive on Valentine’s Day! Our Daily Essentials for Women and Daily Essentials for Men provide all of those nutrients in one easy-to-take packet. Each contains a multivitamin, B-Complex, Optimal Omega, Vitamin D3 + Probiotics, and Magnesium Glycinate.
Mind your libido. Hormones underlie that feeling frisky, being in the mood, and really, just about everything. When important hormones like estrogen or testosterone fall out of balance, your mood, libido, and so much more suffer. A supplement makes the perfect way to help restore that hormone balance. MaxLiving Women’s Hormone Balance provides the vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts to balance estrogen and progesterone. Likewise, Max Vitality for Men combines nutrients that help manage healthy libido, sexual function, and desire.

About the Author

Jason Boehm is a Chicago, IL-based nutritionist and science writer. He combines his two Master’s Degrees in Mass Communication and Nutrition to help others achieve their wellness goals through science-based, engaging written content.