Valentine’s Day represents a day to show others love and appreciation, but some say it has become a day full of stress and expectations glamorized by candy and balloons.
The holiday that has made pink and red hearts a trend has become the latest health debate among those wishing their loved ones some sugar, spice and everything nice.
“I think Valentine’s is a healthy day,” said Kate Dey, Director of Career Services.
Often receiving hearts from her daughter throughout the year, Dey said she admits it feels healthier and happier to hear “I love you” throughout the entire year, and not just on the one day.
It used to be that Feb. 14 was a romantic holiday reserved loosely for lovers to go out on dates, to buy each other flowers, music and chocolate, and for them to feel special on that one particular day of the year.
It was a day to lift another’s spirit, to make them feel loved, and to boost their confidence; thus, creating a more happy, healthy lifestyle.
But the growing trend of the day does not only have lovers catching on. Companies such as Hallmark have ramped the holiday up to such a consumerist height that Valentine’s Day has become to many a day of dread.
“You should be able to show you love any day, not just on Valentine’s Day. People have to work or don’t have money.” Natalie Spangler, an Athletic Trainer said, “There is too much pressure of finding someone to buy you flowers and chocolate.”
Suggestions on what to get your Valentine range from chocolates, stuffed bears, red wines and roses, along with the last minute musical cards and massages.
If you ask an expert’s opinion, however, they would probably tell you some good quality dark chocolates would be the healthy gift to give.
“The darker the chocolate, the better,” said Dr. Stephanie Scott, at the Mills Student Health Center on campus.
The saying tells us we should all drink a glass a day to keep the doc away, but Scott says this is not always the case. She emphasized the studies of drinking one glass of wine a day is still unknown and is continuously being studied.
“The current recommendation is if you are not already drinking one glass a day, don’t start. But if you are, it is one glass,” said Scott. “And that is a glass, not a Big Gulp cup.”
But, if you are out of money, Scott brings up the idea of the ultimate gift of happiness. She said, “It is shown in men that sex promotes longevity.”
