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Good-for-you Valentines

Posted Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 08:48AM
Good-for-you Valentines

When Valentine’s Day comes around, all I want is Hershey’s Valentine Hearts. And though I’ll probably forever adore those chocolate-covered, heart-shaped, red-foil-wrapped pieces of love, I’m beginning to grow fonder of the kind of Valentine’s treats you can’t find in the drugstore aisles. To go for a gift that’s a little less likely to make your beau or ladylove drift off into a sugar coma, here’s how to have a healthier Heart Day this year.

If you’re going to give flowers, go the green route and order a bouquet of blooms from OrganicBouquet.com. Says salvo: “Organic Bouquet is a very socially responsible company that promotes environmentally safe products and donates a portion of its proceeds to charity.” And not only are their roses “beautiful and pesticide-free,” says breastcancerfund - their proceeds also help to benefit breast cancer research. You can even choose to pair your purchase with a dozen organic dark chocolates infused with strawberries, red raspberries, and marionberries. A heart-smarter choice than milk chocolate, the dark variety “contains more antioxidants (substances that slow aging by delaying damage done to blood vessels that can cause heart disease and cancer),” says Healthy Heart.

For more heart-protecting and heavenly dark chocolate, send organic bonbons from CocoaVino. Made with sherry, slivered almonds, sea salt, and buttery caramel, the darling little things are also good for the planet: In addition to only using organic and fair-trade chocolate, “all the energy in their kitchen is generated by wind power,” says Great Green Wedding of CocoaVino.

Although they’re not nearly as celebrated as chocoholics this time of year, tea lovers can get all romantic with a pretty-pink tin of Rose Petal Tea from Republic of Tea. With whole rose petals floating amongst the fragrant black tea leaves, this blend doesn’t just look, smell, and taste divine - it could help ease stress: According to a recent study from the University of London, black tea may lower your levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

For some slightly more decadent sipping, pop the cork on a bottle of Organic Champage from Eco Express. Made from grapes organically grown in Vandières, this bubbly is a dry, full-bodied brut with creamy texture and mature fruit flavors.

To achieve the perfect mood lighting, reach for Nirvana’s heart-symbol-emblazoned Passion Candle. Scented with soothing lavender and chamomile essential oils, the candle’s made from renewable, biodegradable, and vegetable-based wax (easier on your lungs and the earth). Nirvana even won the Sustainable Quality Award for its efforts to reuse 100 percent of its leftover scrap wax, select environmentally-friendly packing materials, and support local and national charities.

Supremely luscious scents can also be found in Carol’s Daughter’s Ecstasy Body Butter, an all-natural beauty treat perfect for your favorite girly-girl. Featuring pineapple, peach, mango, strawberry, vanilla, and Egyptian musk, the “super rich butters work wonders on dry skin,” says mugirl, who raves, “ECSTASY is right!!!”

See more of my Good-for-you Valentines list at ThisNext.

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