......."VALENTINE HEALTH FOODS"......

.....Valentine Health Foods".....

     Valentines Day, celebrations in the Philippines traditionally involve romantic gift-giving of Valentine cards, red roses, candies, especially chocolates, or heart shaped cakes and pastries to loved ones.
     But we can change or improve on these usual Valentines Day fare by eating more healthy and imaginative foods, like a basket of fruits, nuts, and dark chocolate, a bouquet of flowers carved from fruits and vegetables, a package of vegetables and beans, or a box of herbs and spices.  These are good sources of dietary fiber, the health food wonder.  The significant effects of dietary fiber were discovered only in the recent few decades and it has since been hailed as a "miracle ingredients"
     Dietary fiber is the component of foods that cannot be digested or broken down into energy.  It is not a nutrient, but food rich in fiber are loaded with vitamins, minerals and photo nutrients(plant nutrients). Dietary fiber comes from plants, (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and grains) and none from animals chemically, dietary fiber consists of non-starch polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates) and other plant components like cellulose, pectin, and wax.
       Fiber is very helpful in cardiovascular disease, which involves the heart, arteries and veins.  Fiber contains which can help prevent the small clots that trigger heart attacks.  
      Fiber is a natural way of controlling cholesterol is a better alternative to the drugs denominated as "station now commonly prescribed by physicians for treating high cholesterol levels.  A high fiber diet significantly lowers blood pressures(hypertension).  It is important to drink plenty of water to help digest fiber (6-8 glasses daily).  Eat a variety of food sources of fiber, as excessive fiber from a single source can inhibit the absorption of other nutrients.  Increase intake of fiber gradually to avoid bloating or diarrhea.
      Whether it is Valentines Day, or any other special day, and in fact, all year long, we must aim to have healthy items in our diet that include these fiber-risk foods. Who can deny the wonders of fiber rich foods that help us prevent and fight heart and brain diseases, cancer, diabetes and weight gain, promote digestive regularly and improve immunity?  For a long healthy life by just eating these multiple varieties of wholesome and beneficial fiber-rich foods of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.