5 red foods for Valentine's

Few things are sexier than being healthy. These 5 red foods—which are packed with antioxidants and vitamins—will help keep you and your sweetie going strong on Valentine’s Day and all year long.

We're just mad about these healthy scarlet-hued foods!

Cherries

Rich in antioxidants, such as anthocyanin (believed to reduce pain and inflammation), cherries have been purported to fight myriad diseases, including diabetes, cancer, arthritis and gout. Cherries are also a good source of fiber, potassium and vitamin A.

Pomegranate

A near-icon of fertility in much of its native range (Iran to the Himalayas), the pomegranate also has come to represent good health. Studies have shown that the fruit may help to reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries and lower blood pressure. Other research hints that pomegranate juice may help manage prostate cancer, diabetes, arthritis and erectile dysfunction. Experts believe that pomegranate’s benefits come from its powerful punch of polyphenols—including anthocyanins (found in blue, purple and deep-red foods) and tannins (also found in wine and tea).

Beets

With an earthy flavor that gets supersweet when cooked, beets are very nutritious: 1⁄2 cup of cooked beets has just 29 calories but boasts 2 grams of fiber and provides 19 percent of the daily value for folate, a B vitamin needed for the growth of healthy new cells. Plus their beautiful color comes from betanin, a phytochemical that’s thought to bolster immunity. Roast them, pickle them or shred them raw and dress them with citrus for a refreshing salad in these 4 quick and easy beet recipes.

Chile Peppers

Capsaicin, an antioxidant in chiles, thwarts food spoilage and may protect blood vessels. It also makes peppers hot—in more ways than one (hence the spicy folklore that piquant peppers rev up sexual desires). Studies show that capsaicin increases the body’s metabolic rate and may stimulate brain chemicals that help us feel less hungry. In a 2005 study in the International Journal of Obesity, people ate 16 percent fewer calories at a meal if they sipped tomato juice spiked with hot-pepper extract (versus plain tomato juice) a half hour earlier.

Tomatoes

A terrific source of vitamin C with a touch of vitamin A, potassium and fiber thrown in for good measure, tomatoes don’t just taste great, they’re also good for you. (Hard to believe that at one time they were thought to be poisonous!) Tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that fights skin aging and may be beneficial against cancer and heart disease.

Source: eatingwell.com

Healthy Valentine's Day Foods

Valentine's Day is approaching, so it's time to get a card, roses, and … your ORAC points?

What is ORAC

ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, which is the USDA's method of measuring a food's capacity to fight harmful free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are linked to heart disease, cancer, neuronal degeneration and aging.

Simply put, ORAC measures a food's antioxidant power. The higher a food's ORAC value, the greater the food's antioxidant-packed punch.

Consider these hot Valentine's Day foods and you'll see with just a little thought you can rack up these points, fight heart disease and aging (among others) and perhaps even boost the romance for the evening.

Best of all, eating antioxidant-rich foods may even increase your chances of having a more romantic evening. Strawberries and chocolate have both been known to boost libido. Consider these other heart-healthy foods known to have the same affect on libido when planning your Valentine's Day dinner: avocado, almonds, asparagus and salmon.

Hopefully, all of these heart-healthy libido-boosting foods will lead to sex, which increases antioxidant levels in the blood. Oxytocin, a hormone released in both men and women after orgasm, through cuddling, and simply by holding hands acts as a soothing antioxidant and may make it easier for people to stick to their diets. Looks like Cupid is really looking out for our hearts!

Dark chocolate: Rich in flavonoids that prevent the buildup of coronary arterial plaque, which can contribute to the development of heart disease, this decadent treat, also boosts your immune system and contains cancer-fighting enzymes. Look for products that have at least 60 percent (70 percent is better) cocoa and list cocoa beans or cocoa liquor as the first ingredient. One ounce has 5,900 ORAC points.

Strawberries: These juicy, heart-shaped berries are a potent source of the antioxidant vitamin C, and keep you satisfied and hydrated with fiber and fluid. The source of their bright red color, compounds called anthocyanins, help to reduce inflammation. Biting into these body-friendly fruits can beautify your smile too: strawberries contain malic acid, which may act as an astringent to remove surface discoloration from your teeth. A 1-cup serving has 5,400 ORAC points.

Cherries: Researchers have found that the anthocyanins in cherries, especially the tart varieties, reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels; they pack 3,500 ORAC points per serving.

Red wine: This pourable ORAC powerhouse should be consumed as a "conscious indulgence" and has been shown to help lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol levels. Sipping the naturally occurring compounds in red wine, called polyphenols, may prevent the formation of toxic plaque that leads to Alzheimer's disease. A 5 oz serving of wine with dinner has 5,700 ORAC points.

Source: cbsnews.com