HAPPY FEBRUARY!

FROM THE STRATFORD VNA & CARE CONNECTION

AMERICAN HEART MONTH

Why do we observe American Heart Month every February? Well, every year more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease. The number one cause of deaths for most groups, heart disease affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use.

Do you know how to keep your heart healthy? You can take an active role in reducing your risk for heart disease by eating a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity, and managing your cholesterol and blood pressure. This is a great chance to start some heart-healthy habits!

HISTORY OF AMERICAN HEART MONTH

The human heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout our body, supplying oxygen and nutrients and removing toxins and waste. Weighing between 8 and 12 ounces, the heart is a mighty organ divided into four chambers that work together to pump blood in and out. The heart gets oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it throughout the rest of the body. It does this by contracting at a rhythmic pace, about 60-80 times per minute, thanks to electrical cells called “pacemakers.” When the heart ceases to perform its regular function, a medical device also called a pacemaker can be implanted to assist the heart.

Heart disease occurs when the arteries leading to the heart become clogged. Although heart disease has been around for thousands of years, we do know that many aspects of modern life exacerbate risk factors and make people more prone to heart disease and heart failure. Today, one in four deaths in the U.S. is attributable to heart disease. Heart disease can affect everyone, but taking stock of your prior health risks, activities and diet can help you reduce your risk.

Although we’ve learned a lot about how the heart works, there are still many unanswered questions about heart health and the cardiovascular system. As far as we know, the best way to protect your heart is to stay active, eat a healthy and balanced diet, and reduce your daily stress. To celebrate American Heart Month, take some time to learn about heart health risks, find your favorite heart-healthy activities, and cook some healthy meals with your family.

If you’re like us, you don’t need a reason to celebrate dark chocolate, but it sure is sweet to have one. National Dark Chocolate Day on February 1 is an opportunity exalt the health and happiness that dark chocolate brings and pay homage to the history and cultural significance surrounding this decadent treat.

5 FACTS ABOUT CHOCOLATE

1. Chocolate was originally a fermented beverage

Believed by the Aztecs to be a gift from Quetzalcoatl, the god of wisdom, chocolate was originally a fermented beverage that gave the drinker strength.

1. Chocolate gets its name from the Aztecs

Chocolate is derived from the Aztec language of Nahuatl word “chocolātl” which means “bitter drink.”

1. Dark chocolate is a potential superfood

Thanks to its high percentage of cocoa and lower amounts of sugar and milk, dark chocolate’s health benefits have made it a potential superfood.

1. Africa provides most of the world’s cocoa

About two-thirds of cocoa in the world is produced in Western Africa with the Ivory Coast being the largest source of the crop.

1. Americans consume 2.8 billion pounds per year

That’s over 11 pounds per person.

WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL DARK CHOCOLATE DAY

1. Dark chocolate is good for you

Potassium, zinc, magnesium, oh my! Dark chocolate contains vitamins and minerals that the body needs. It is also rich in powerful anti-oxidants called flavonoids that promote healthy circulation and prevents plaque formation in the arteries.

2. It makes you feel good

Dark chocolate contains tryptophan and phenylethylamine, two chemicals known to tell your brain to release pleasure causing endorphins. This feeling of euphoria is often compared with the feeling of being in love.

3. It is so darned versatile

Chocolate’s low melting point makes it perfect for use in baking and there are tons of ways to incorporate the sweet treat. Whether you’ve got panache for ganache or freak out for fudge, break out that double boiler and get melting.

 

VALENTINE’S DAY 2022

Love is in the air on Valentine’s Day on February 14. Even though we believe that love should be spread and celebrated every day, we don’t always remember to do that. So on this dedicated day, go above and beyond in expressing your love for family, friends, and of course, your significant other.

HISTORY OF VALENTINE’S DAY

The believed origins is that it came from the feast for the patron saints named Valentine, by the Catholic Church during the in 496 AD. This was a way to over shadow and later replace the deemed brutal Pagan festival of Lupercalia. This festival was celebrated at the beginning of spring and paid homage to the Roman God of Agriculture, Faunus, on February 15. A goat and dog would be sacrificed symbolizing fertility and purity, respectively. This would then involve the hide of the goat being torn into strips, dipped in the sacrificial blood, and painted across the women and crops.

Despite there being many Valentines associated with the patron Saints Day, historians believe that the romanticized element of how Valentine’s Day is celebrated today came from a priest who was martyred by emperor Claudis II Gothicus in around 270 CE. Varying stories talk about different St Valentines with some saying one was marrying couples in secret to prevent men going off to war, another healed the blind, and the next wrote a message to his daughter signed ‘your Valentine’. There is also a possibility that they could be the same person!

It was during the 1400s that the day was associated with romance. Messages, or ‘Valentines’ as they were called, began to appear. Hand written letters and poems declaring affections of love became more and more popular. In the mid-1800s, Valentine’s cards began to be commercially produced and traditional gifts were candy and flowers, especially red roses symbolizing love and beauty.

Today, Valentine’s Day has become inclusive of friends and family to show how much you care and love them.

Valentine’s Day has a new meaning when you need an organ transplant to survive. 120,000 Americans currently waiting for precious organ transplants depend on the public to sign up with their state’s organ donor registries on National Donor Day every February 14. It’s a more concrete way to show love than giving heart-shaped candy, roses and red velvet teddy bears. By donating organs such as corneas, tissue, marrow, platelets and blood; you create a living legacy of your generosity with the ultimate gift of love.

WHY NATIONAL DONOR DAY IS IMPORTANT

1. It promotes a different outpouring of love

National Donor Day was chosen as the perfect day for Americans to show their love for people waiting for organ transplants. On this day, the public is encouraged to help the many thousands of organ transplant patients by joining an organ donation registry. Did you know that as an organ donor you can save up to 8 people or heal more than 75 lives with your eye and tissue donation after you die? That’s an amazing way to express your love for humanity.

2. It gives you control over your final wish

By joining a donor registry, you declare your intention to donate your organs, eyes or tissue right after you die. Sometimes families don’t always understand why donating organs is important, so once you decide to join a donor registry, discuss the decision with your family to ensure your last wish is honored. It’s also wise to put your wish in writing, instructing your family to provide information and documentation on your medical and social history. Being proactive today wisely prepares your family to follow through on your commitment without undue stress.

3. It replaces myths with accurate information

There are currently more people awaiting transplants than in years past. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about becoming a donor or joining a donor registry so it’s important to get the facts. For example, some people believe that certain illnesses or physical defects will keep you from being a donor which, with minor exceptions, is false. Other people think that physicians won’t try hard to save your life if they know you’re a donor, which discounts the number one priority for doctors — saving lives.

 

A VALENTINE’S DAY TREAT!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups with Sea Salt (Makes 20 Chocolate Cups)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon maldon sea salt
• 12 ounce bag chocolate chips (milk, dark or bittersweet)

Preparation

1. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and melt for 90 seconds, stirring halfway through until smooth.
2. Place 1 heaping teaspoon of the melted chocolate into small paper liners in a mini-muffin tin and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
3. Place the peanut butter and powdered sugar in a bowl and stir to combine.

   4. While the chocolate cools, roll 1 teaspoon of the peanut butter mixture into a ball and then flatten into a disk. Repeat with the rest of the peanut butter.

   5. When the chocolate has cooled, place a peanut butter disk in each cup on top of the refrigerated chocolate mixture.

   6. Top cups with the remaining melted chocolate to cover and finish with a few flakes of fleur de sel. Refrigerate until set.*

   6. Peel the papers off and eat!

   * Chocolate Cups can be kept refrigerated or at room temperature