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Memories made with a Napoleon ® STYLE | PERFORMANCE | QUALITY napoleongrills.com PROUDLY MADE IN CANADA Available at these fine retail locations and many more. The BBQ Shop 1515 Broadway St., #510, Port Coquitlam 604-468-8227 Capitol Iron 1900 Store St., Victoria 604-536-4502 Crystalview Pool & Spa 104 Phillip Ave., North Vancouver 604-985-0057 Gasland Equip. & Fireplaces 2418 King George Blvd., Surrey 604-536-4502 Trail Appliances 8 locations throughout British Columbia www.trailappliances.com bcliving.ca health tness WINE When it comes to a airs of the heart, don't forget red wine, which is another powerful source of anti- oxidants. Red wine con- tains tannins, compounds derived from the red pigments in grape skins. Research from the Mayo Clinic shows these anti- oxidants can help reduce the risk of heart attack by decreasing the formation of blood clots as well as positively impacting cholesterol levels. ■ Fall head over heels in health with these three sexy Valentine's indulgences. Sinfully Good for You According to Nielsen Research, more than 58 million pounds of chocolate candy will be sold dur- ing Valentine's week. But buying chocolate doesn't just have to be in the spirit of love – there are convincing health bene ts to eating this sweet indulgence. A review published in the Cochrane Database of System- atic Reviews found that the antioxidant properties in dark chocolate can have a positive impact on blood pressure in the short term. It seems an associa- tion between the cocoa polyphe- nols in chocolate and a natural chemical in our blood helps our Sex There is no scientifi c evidence to suggest chocolate and red wine are aphrodisiacs, but if they help put you in the mood for love, then why let the lack of proof get in the way? Because there may be another health benefi t to Valentine's Day. A recent study by scientists at the University of Quebec found that having sex can burn more calories than taking a walk. The study evaluated 21 hetero- sexual couples between the ages of 18 and 35 and found that having sex burns, on average, 4.2 calories per minute for men and 3.1 calories per minute for women. If the average session lasted 24.7 min- utes, this equated to burning 104 calories for men and 69 calories for women. Although sex doesn't burn as many calo- ries as jogging, most study participants reported that they found sex more enjoy- able than running (duh) so having sex can be a pleasurable way to supplement your regular exercise regimen. Dr. Rhonda Low is a family physician and TV and radio health journalist in Vancouver. Keep up @doctorrhonda but it needs to have at least 75 per cent cocoa for you to reap the health bene ts. Milk chocolate doesn't have the same e ect because it doesn't have as much cocoa liquor, and white chocolate doesn't contain any cocoa liquor at all. arteries expand and relax. And according to studies published in the European Heart Journal and Journal of Nutrition, eating as little as a ¼ oz. (about 10 grams) of dark chocolate per day can help to lower your blood pressure, improve blood ow to the brain and heart and boost memory, attention span and problem-solving skills. But make sure you give your loved one the right kind of chocolate. Dark chocolate is rich in the cocoa liquor that contains the polyphenols (you can tell by the bitter taste), 39 4 | Chocolate More tips from Dr. Low at BCLiving.ca/ Health p38-39_Health-DrLow.indd 39 14-01-21 8:59 AM