Romance your Valentine with health in mind

This Valentine’s Day, forego the box of chocolates and instead focus on showing your sweetheart how much you really love them – give them a gift promoting their health.

Gifts of health are one of the best ways to show just how much you love someone demonstrating you want them around for a long time to come. This type of gift can also be one with lasting effects rather than short term gratification found in heart-shaped candies or a bouquet of flowers that eventually wither and die.

For inspiration on the perfect present promoting health and relaxation to surprise your true love, here are some ideas making this Valentine’s Day extra special:

· Couple’s massage – Can you really think of a better idea than this? Massages are no longer offered only at luxury spas or upscale health clubs. Today, massage therapy can be offered in businesses, clinics and even at airports. Considered part of complementary and alternative medicine, massages have many health benefits which include reducing anxiety, digestive disorders, headaches, fibromyalgia, insomnia, and even joint pain. Massages are not meant to replace regular medical care but can be a powerful tool to help take charge of your health and well-being.

· Fruit bouquet – Now here’s a healthy alternative to the real thing. There are businesses which sell this item but you can get creative and make your own. All you need are some cookie cutters and bamboo kabob sticks. Use firm textured fruits such as apples and pineapples for shaped flowers. Or add in sections of strawberry, melon, banana, grapes, and oranges. Arrange in a vase just like flowers and you’re done.

· Plan a day trip – No matter where you live, take advantage of what your location has to offer. Take your special someone to a park, lake, beach, or skating rink for a fun Valentine’s date. Foster your relationship by spending quality time together while relaxing and getting away from it all.

· Cooking classes – Here’s a gift idea with lasting impact on your loved one’s health. Purchase lessons focusing on healthy cuisine such as Indian, Vegetarian or Thai. If you enroll in the classes together, this can be a fun way of learning a new skill and about healthy cooking.

· Seed kits or potted plants – Maybe February is not exactly the right time to be outdoors planting green plants but eventually springtime will arrive. There is something about working in dirt however, having the ability to boost mood and is a great from of exercise. In addition to proving nutritious produce for your dinner table and beautiful flowers to decorate with, gardening offers a host of health benefits:

· Exposure to vitamin D

· Reduces dementia risk

· Combats loneliness

· Exercise equipment – This gift is one you could share amongst each other and could include a jump rope, kettlebell, dumbbells, yoga mat, or a gift membership to a gym. If your Valentine loves jogging, walking trails, or bicycling, consider a pedometer, new shoes and socks, or even a new bicycle.

· Essential oils – Used for thousands of years but have lately rapidly grown in popularity, essential oils are highly concentrated oils with a strong, powerful scent. Certain scents have the capability of whisking us back to childhood or our favorite restaurant. Some scents however, can actually help you relax or sleep having a positive effect on our mental, physical, and emotional health. Applied directly onto skin, inhaled or through a diffuser, essential oils may include lavender, peppermint, tea tree chamomille, lemon, or even frankincense to name just a few. There health benefits are diverse and may help with fatigue, acne, relieving congestion, or to soothe psoriasis.