Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love, it’s also about stories. But are stories really like the ones we see in movies and read in books?
This Valentine’s Day TBR News Media chose to ask the people of Long Island about the moment they fell in love and took a better look at the movies of peoples’ lives
Pamela and Vincent Giglio
Pamela and Vincent Giglio of Northport
Pamela and Vincent met in August, 1977 at a club called the Penrod in East Meadow when “disco was really big”. After parting ways, they then ran into each other again three weeks later at another club and the rest is history. They will be celebrating their 45th anniversary this summer and will be spending this Valentine’s day with their new grandchild.
Brian and Josette Lebowitz
Brian and Josette Lebowitz of East Setauket
Josette and Brian met on a blind date that was set up by a mutual friend. They married in October of 2019 and will be spending the upcoming holiday with their family.
Taly D. and Leron D. of South Setauket
Taly and Leron met on a Jewish dating website called JDate. The two plan to celebrate this Valentine’s day early and casually.
Mary and Pete Mantia
Mary and Pete Mantia of Patchogue
Mary and Pete met in a supermarket just after Pete had finished serving in Vietnam. They will be spending this Valentine’s day in the city with their family and friends.
Diane and Jeremy Flint of East Setauket
Diane and Jeremy met in the sunshine state of Florida while playing in an adult coed soccer team. They later married in Iceland before moving to Long Island to start a family. They plan on spending Valentine’s day as a family by making heart-shaped pizzas and sweet treats.
HappyValentine’s Day from Times Beacon Record News Media!
Vintage Valentine’s Day cards. Photo courtesy of Beverly C.Tyler
By Beverly C. Tyler
“I was very happy to hear from you and to hear that you hadn’t forgot me and thought enough of me to send me a Valentine.” (Mary Bayles to Nichols Hawkins February 16, 1840)
The celebration of Feb. 14 began as an ancient Roman ceremony called the Feast of the Lupercalia. It was on the eve of the Feast of the Lupercalia in the year 270 that Valentinus, a Roman priest, was executed. According to an article in the Nuremberg Chronicle, published in December 1493, “Valentinus was said to have performed valiant service in assisting Christian Martyrs during their persecution under Emperor Claudius II. Giving aid and comfort to Christians at that time was considered a crime, and for his actions Valentinus was clubbed, stoned and beheaded.”
It is thought that when the early Christian church reorganized the calendar of festivals they substituted the names of Christian saints for the pagan names and allocated February 14 to St. Valentine.
The tradition of sending messages, gifts and expressions of love on Valentine’s Day goes back to at least the 15th century. In 1477, in Britain, John Paston wrote to his future wife, “Unto my ryght wele belovyd Voluntyn – John Paston Squyer.”
By the 17th century, Valentine’s Day was well established as an occasion for sending cards, notes or drawings to loved ones. An early British valentine dated 1684 was signed by Edward Sangon, Tower Hill, London. “Good morrow Vallentine, God send you ever to keep your promise and bee constant ever.”
Vintage Valentine’s Day cards. Photo courtesy of Beverly C.Tyler
In America the earliest known valentines date to the middle of the 18th century. These hand-made greetings were often very artistically done and included a heart or a lover’s knot. They were folded, sealed and addressed without the use of an envelope. Until the 1840’s, the postal rate was determined by the distance to be traveled and the number of sheets included, so an envelope would have doubled the cost.
In 1840, Nichols Smith Hawkins, age 25, of Stony Brook sent a valentine to his paternal first cousin Mary Cordelia Bayles, age 18. The original does not exist, but her reply, written two days after Valentine’s Day, says a great deal. “Much Esteemed Friend – I now take this opportunity to write a few lines to you to let you know that I received your letter last evening. I was very happy to hear from you and to hear that you hadent forgot me and thought enough of me to send me a Valentine. I havent got anything now to present to you but I will not forget you as quick, as I can make it conveinant I will get something for you to remember me by.
“You wrote that you wanted me to make you happy by becoming yourn. I should like to comfort you but I must say that I cannot for particular reasons. It isn’t because I don’t respect you nor do I think that I ever shall find anyone that will do any better by me. I sincerely think that you will do as well by me as anyone. I am very sorry to hear that it would make you the most miserable wretch on earth if I refused you for I cannot give you any encouragement. I beg to be excused for keeping you in suspense so long and then deny you. Believe me my friend I wouldn’t if I thought of denying you of my heart and hand. I think just as much of you now as ever I did. I cannot forget a one that I do so highly respect. You will think it very strange then why I do refuse you. I will tell you although I am very sorry to say so it is on the account of the family. They do oppose me very much. They say so much that I half to refuse you. It is all on their account that I do refuse so good an offer. I sincerely hope that it will be for the best.”
We don’t know the members of Mary’s family who opposed her marriage to Nichols. Was it her parents who had died in 1836 and 1838 respectively, or the family members that Mary lived with when she became an orphan at age 16 or 17? Whatever the circumstances, their love for each other continued to bloom.
Four days after replying to the Valentine letter, Mary again replied to a letter from Nichols.“Dear Cousin – I received your letter yesterday morning. I was very sorry to hear that you was so troubled in mind. I don’t doubt but what you do feel very bad for I think that I can judge you by my own feelings but we must get reconciled to our fate…Keep your mind from it as much as you can and be cheerful for I must tell you as I have told you before that I cannot relieve you by becoming your bride, therefore I beg and entreat on you not to think of me anymore as a companion through life for if you make yourself unhappy by it, you will make me the most miserable creature in the world to think that I made you so unhappy…I must now close my letter with my love to you. – This is from your most unhappy cousin M__________________ ”
At least two other letters, written the following year, were sent to Nichols from Mary. The letters continued to express the friendship that existed between them. The story does not end there.
On Feb. 11, 1849, Nichols Smith Hawkins, age 34, married Mary Cordelia Bayles, age 27. Coincidentally, Nichols’ parents, William Hawkins and Mary Nichols were married on Valentine’s Day in 1813. Nichols and Mary raised three children who lived beyond childhood (two others died in 1865). Nichols was a farmer and the family lived in Stony Brook. Mary died Jan. 30, 1888 at the age of 66 and Nichols died Feb. 10, 1903, at the age of 88. They are buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Stony Brook. Mary’s letters are in the Three Village Historical Society archive collection.
Valentines became fancier and more elaborate through the second half of the 19th century. After 1850, the valentine slowly became a more general greeting rather than a message sent to just one special person. The advent of the picture postal card in 1907, which allowed messages to be written on one half of the side reserved for the address, started a national craze that saw every holiday become a reason for sending a postcard and Valentine’s Day the occasion for a flood of one-cent expressions of love.
Beverly Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket, NY 11733. Tel: 631-751-3730. WWW.TVHS.org
'Lasting Love' pre-Valentine's dinner 2025. Photo courtesy of Cona Elder Law
'Lasting Love' pre-Valentine's dinner 2025. Photo courtesy of Cona Elder Law
'Lasting Love' pre-Valentine's dinner 2025. Photo courtesy of Cona Elder Law
'Lasting Love' pre-Valentine's dinner 2025. Photo courtesy of Cona Elder Law
'Lasting Love' pre-Valentine's dinner 2025. Photo courtesy of Cona Elder Law
'Lasting Love' pre-Valentine's dinner 2025. Photo courtesy of Cona Elder Law
'Lasting Love' pre-Valentine's dinner 2025. Photo courtesy of Cona Elder Law
'Lasting Love' pre-Valentine's dinner 2025. Photo courtesy of Cona Elder Law
Third Annual Event Hosted by Cona Elder Law honors couples and their secrets to relationship success
Long Island couples who have been married 50 years or more gathered for a pre-Valentine’s celebration at the 3rd Annual “Lasting Love” Valentine’s Dinner on Feb. 11 to toast their successful relationships.
“This room is full of beautiful people who got it right,” said Jennifer Cona, Founder and Managing Partner of Cona Elder Law. “There are a lot of things older adults can teach us, including the secrets of staying together. Lessons of patience, of compromise. All those things that it takes to stay together for so long.”
Held at Verona Ristorante in Farmingdale, each participating couple feasted on a complimentary traditional Italian dinner including appetizers, dinner and dessert plus a glass of wine or a cocktail.
Couples also had the opportunity to share their stories about how they met and how they have been successful in their marriages and offer advice to younger couples on their own path to relationship success.
“We got married very young and we grew up together,” said Shelley Rudes of Woodbury. She and her husband Jonathan have been together for 51 years. “We never go to bed angry.”
“I think it takes a lot of patience and a sense of humor,” said Diane Powell, of Roslyn. She and her husband Tom have been married 52 years. “You need to keep your relationships with friends and family and be ready to face things you don’t expect. You have to stick together in good times and bad.”
The event was sponsored by Melville-based Cona Elder Law, which concentrates in the areas of elder law, estate planning, estate administration and litigation, and health care law. Cona Elder Law takes a holistic approach to elder law, providing support and resources for older adults and caregivers, and maintains long-term, partnering relationships with clients to provide the best solutions for multiple generations.
Valentine’s Day often sparks the age-old debate about whether love at first sight is real or just a romantic notion. Some people swear by it, claiming that an instant connection or an inexplicable bond can form in the blink of an eye. For them, it’s more than just attraction — it’s a deep, immediate understanding or a shared energy that can’t be ignored. Others, however, argue that love is something that builds over time, shaped by experiences, conversations and vulnerability. They believe that true love cannot be rushed, and that the initial spark is often mistaken for infatuation or chemistry.
TBR News Media recently asked Long Islanders what they thought about love at first sight.
Lisa Goldfeder
Lisa Goldfeder from Babylon
“I don’t believe in love at first sight. You have to get to know someone first, spend time with them, be friends, then the love will come. People who say they believe in love at first sight are more like infatuated to me.”
Lonnie Goldfeder
Lonnie Goldfeder from Babylon
“I believe you can fall in love when you first meet someone. You have that feeling that they’re ‘the one’ and everything else follows.”
Frank Borrero
Frank Borrero from Huntington
“I believe in love at first sight, but not the kind of love that lasts forever. I love women, so every woman I meet is love at first sight to me. A pair and a spare is my motto.”
Neil Clay
Neil Clay from Stony Brook
“I believe in love at first sight. It’s how I met my wife. We both went outside to throw our garbage in the dumpster and I knew from that minute I met my soulmate.”
Lucia Trowe
Lucia Trowe from Huntington
“I definitely think you can fall in love with someone when you first meet them. My husband told me seconds after we met that he loved me and asked me to marry him. We were married 40 years.”
Michael Joseph
Michael Joseph from Huntington
“I don’t believe in love at first sight unless you’re picking a dog. How can you know you love someone from a chance meeting or look?”
This is the message on a 1925 Valentine’s Day postcard sent to my mother in Port Jefferson. Mom was born in November 1914, so she was ten years old when she received the postcard. The front of the card shows a cherub with pots of heart flowers. The address on the postcard was simply addressed to her at “Port Jefferson, L.I.” This particular postcard was sent from Brooklyn, NY. Mom kept only a few valentine postcards. The majority of the valentine messages she kept were cards in the shape of the figure or image.
In the first three decades of the 20th century, Valentine’s Day figure and image cards were favored over postcards, especially by children. In my mother’s case most of these cards were put in envelopes and hand-delivered to the mailbox on the street or to the front door by their neighborhood friends. This makes it difficult to know what year the cards were sent. The presence of a few postcards with 1920s postmarks helps, especially as my mother kept both the postcards and the cut out cards in the same box.
Greetings cards became a world-wide phenomenon. This remarkable development was fueled by the postcard’s convenience and cost. The postcard was, before the wide-spread use of the telephone, the quickest means of making contact with a friend, relative or tradesman.
Interestingly, within a century, the personal computer, through the use of the internet, would begin to fill the same need. The only major difference being that, at the end of the 19th century, everyone had mail delivery, whereas at the end of the 20th century personal computers and the internet were not yet in every home.
Many greetings cards such as these were saved and placed in postcard albums. Today they provide us with a glimpse of life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Beverly C. Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket, NY 11733. Tel: 631-751-3730. www.TVHS.org
Candy, flowers, heart-shaped notes — what’s not to like about Valentine’s Day? This sweet celebration, which happens every year on February 14, is all about spreading the love. Still don’t have plans for this special day? Check out these 14 events happening right in our own backyard. See more Valentine’s Day related events in next week’s TIMES … and dates.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a screening of ‘Casablanca’ at the Cinema Arts Centre.
1. ‘Casablanca’ at the CAC
“Of all the gin joints, in all the towns,
in all the world, she walks into mine.“
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington invites all lovebirds and lonelyhearts to spend Valentine’s Day with them revisiting a classic, Casablanca, on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, $15 members and includes complimentary sweets. To order tickets in advance, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
2. An evening of jazz
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook presents “Here’s to the Ladies!” a special Valentine’s Day concert featuring The Jazz Loft All Stars playing tunes honoring the women of Jazz on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. The venue will supply the live jazz music, a glass of champagne and chocolate. You supply the romance. Tickets are $50. To order, visit www.thejazzloft.org.
3. HeARTS for ART
Fall in love with art at the HeARTS for ART Valentine’s Day event at the Heckscher Museum, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington on Feb. 14 from noon to 5 p.m. Fall in love with a work of art and place a heart in front of your favorite work of art for all to see/ Then post your pick on social media with #heartsforart. Free with museum admission. 631-330-3230
4. WinterTide concert
The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson hosts a special Valentine’s Day concert on Feb. 14 with musical storyteller Gerald Bair from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of its WinterTide series. Free. Sponsored by St. Charles Hospital and Greater Port Jeff-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council. Call 473-5220 or visit www.gpjac.org.
5. Valentine’s Day Paint & Sip
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Northport Historical Society and Museum, 215 Main St., Northport with a fun, creative twist! Join curator Elizabeth Abrahams Riordan for a Paint and Sip event on Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. inspired by the iconic Still in Love graffiti on Northport’s Bayview Avenue. Participants will paint their own homage to this unique piece of local street art and enjoy adult beverages. For ages 21 and over. Tickets are $35 per person, $30 members. To register, visit www.northporthistorical.org. 631-757-9859
6. Grounds and Sounds concert
Grounds and Sounds Cafe, UUFSB, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket hosts a concert featuring The Claudia Jacobs Band on Feb. 14 to serve up tunes that will honor a wide range of feelings that are sure to touch hearts no matter where they might be residing at the moment. The show begins with an Open Mic at 7:30 (signup at 7 p.m.); the main act goes on at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, available in advance at www.groundsandsounds.org or at the door. For more information, call 631-751-0297.
7. Michael Bublé Tribute
The Suffolk Theater, 118 E. Main St., Riverhead presents Feelin’ Good: The Ultimate Michael Bublé Experience with Anthony Bernasconi on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. Join them for a night filled with the timeless classics and unforgettable originals that have made Bublé a global sensation. Backed by a 17-piece orchestra, this show promises an authentic experience that will transport you straight to the front row of a live Bublé concert. Tickets range from $49 to $99. To order, call 727-4343 or visit www.suffolktheater.com.
8. Valentine dinner dance
Time to put on your dancing shoes! East Wind Long Island, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River presents its annual Valentine Dinner Dance in the Grand Ballroom on Feb. 14 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Enjoy a four hour premium open bar, live DJ music, passed hors d’oeuvres, gourmet buffet and dessert for $125 per person. For reservations, call 631-929-6585 or visit www.eastwindlongisland.com.
9. ‘Heartbreak Hotel’
Fans of Elvis will love Heartbreak Hotel at the John Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. The show takes a closer look at the musical icon whose impact shaped the history of rock and roll from his early days to his rise to become “The King of Rock and Roll” and features over 40 Elvis hits and iconic songs including, “That’s All Right,” “All Shook Up,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Burning Love,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Jail- house Rock,” “Are You Lonesome,” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” For tickets, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
10. Night Sky Love
Looking for an unusual date night with Your Valentine? The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road Centerport will present a special Valentine’s Day show, “Night Sky Love,” on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. and again at 8 p.m.This live presentation celebrates Valentine’s Day and all of its lovers in outer space. With its Valentine/love emphasis, this show will explore how civilizations told stories about the constellations that included tales of heroism and love, and how they are depicted in the night sky.Tickets to the afternoon show are $20 adults, $18 students (with ID) and seniors (62-plus), $16 children 12 and under. Tickets to the evening show are $12 adults, $10 students (with ID) and seniors (62-plus), $8 children 12 and under. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
11. ‘Jersey Boys’
Head over to the South Shore for a performance of Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons at the Argyle Theatre, 34 West Main St., Babylon on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Featuring chart-topping hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Dawn,” and “My Eyes Adored You,” which brought The Four Seasons the highest honor: induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. For tickets, visit www.argyletheatre.com.
12. Valentine’s Day Tribute Concert
Join the Reboli Center for Art & History 604 Main St., Stony Brook for Pure Joy, a Valentine’s Day tribute to African American singers and composers with Paige Patterson and her band on Feb. 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy music from Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson, The Drifters, Corinne Bailey Rae and more. $45 per person includes champagne and refreshments. Call 631-751-7707 to reserve your seat.
13. Valentine’s Day Yappy Hour
And for the animal lover …. Save A Pet, 608 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station will hold a Valentine’s Day Yappy Hour fundraiser on Feb. 14 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Join them for a special pregame treat. Enjoy wine, charcuterie, sweets, raffle baskets and a rose, all while supporting the animals at the shelter — and yes, adorable puppies will be in attendance to make your evening even more delightful! Your $25 ticket can be used toward an adoption fee. For reservations, visit www.saveapetusa.org.
14. Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra
Stony Brook University’s Staller Centerfor the Art, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents a Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra concert on the Main Stage on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. Conducted by Xian Zhang, the program will include Bellini’s Overture “I Capuleti e Montecchi”; Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with a piano solo by Owen Dodds; and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5. Join emeritus professor Peter Winkler in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. for a free pre-concert lecture. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 seniors and $10 students (with SBU ID). To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.
Huntington Town Clerk Andrew Raia will perform multiple marriage ceremonies on Valentine's Day. Photo from Town of Huntington
Photo from Town of Huntington
Photo from Town of Huntington
Planning on getting married? Why not get married on love’s greatest holiday! Huntington Town Clerk Andrew P. Raia will be performing his annual Valentine’s Day Marriage Marathon as the Town’s Marriage Officer on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 at Huntington Town Hall, 100 Main Street, Huntington.
“Love is in the air once again at Huntington Town Hall this Valentine’s Day,” said Town Clerk Andrew Raia. “It is an honor and a privilege to join two people in a lifetime of love and commitment and it’s the part of my job that is the most heartwarming.”
Mr. Raia will perform ceremonies from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Town Board Room by appointment; there is no charge to the couple for the ceremony and their guests are welcome to attend the reception. Complimentary refreshments will be served with surprise gifts for the bridal couple.
Please note:
• Marriage Ceremonies: A marriage ceremony may only take place 24 hours after the issuance of a marriage license (more information); vow renewals do not require a waiting period.
• Domestic Partnership Registry: Find more information on requirements for a Domestic Partnership Registry by visiting www.huntingtonny.gov/domestic-partnership.
To make an appointment, please call the Town Clerk’s Office at 631-351-3216 or email [email protected].
Looking for a way to romance your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day? The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, will supply the live jazz music, champagne and chocolate. You supply the romance.
The Jazz Loft presents “Here’s to the Ladies,” on Friday, February 16 at 7 p.m., featuring The Jazz Loft All Stars”, with Tom Manuel on cornet/vocals; Dean Johnson on bass; Steve Salerno on guitar; Ray Anderson on trombone and Darrell Smith on drums.
The performance repertoire is songs written for women, about women, to women, by women– It’s all about the ladies when Valentine’s Day comes to the Jazz Loft.All tickets are $40. The event includes a glass of champagne and deluxe chocolate.
“Our Valentine’s Day performances at the Jazz Loft are all about the LADIES– period!” said Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel. “So, gentlemen, if you’re looking for someplace that will celebrate them properly, the Loft is the place to be!”
The Jazz Loft is located just 90 minutes from New York City and is the only music venue on Long Island that features exclusively Jazz music. For tickets visit: https://www.thejazzloft.org/calendar
Key changes can significantly reduce heart disease risk. METRO photo
By David Dunaief, M.D.
Dr. David Dunaief
In February, we celebrate Valentine’s Day, a celebration of those we love, alongside American Heart Month, an invitation for us to build our awareness of heart-healthy habits.
The good news is that heart disease is on the decline due to several factors, including improved medicines, earlier treatment of risk factors, and an embrace of lifestyle modifications. While we are headed in the right direction, we can do better. Heart disease is ultimately preventable.
Can we reduce heart disease risks?
Major risk factors for heart disease include obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes. Sadly, rates of both obesity and diabetes are rising. For patients with type 2 diabetes, 70 percent die of cardiovascular causes (1).
Key contributors also include inactivity and the standard American diet, which is rich in saturated fat and calories (2). This drives atherosclerosis, fatty streaks in the arteries.
Another potential risk factor is a resting heart rate greater than 80 beats per minute (bpm). In one study, healthy men and women had 18 and 10 percent increased risks of dying from a heart attack, respectively, for every increase of 10 bpm over 80 (3). A normal resting heart rate is usually between 60 and 100 bpm. Thus, you don’t have to have a racing heart rate, just one that is high-normal. All of these risk factors can be overcome.
When does medication help?
Cholesterol and blood pressure medications have been credited to some extent with reducing the risk of heart disease. Compliance with taking blood pressure medications has increased over the last 10 years from 33 to 50 percent, according to the American Society of Hypertension.
Statins have also played a key role in primary prevention. They are effective at lowering lipid levels, including total cholesterol and LDL — the “bad” cholesterol. In addition, they lower the inflammation levels that contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. The Jupiter trial showed a 55 percent combined reduction in heart disease, stroke and mortality from cardiovascular disease in healthy patients — those with a slightly elevated level of inflammation and normal cholesterol profile — with statins.
The downside of statins is their side effects. Statins have been shown to increase the risk of diabetes in intensive dosing, compared to moderate dosing (4). Many who are on statins also suffer from myopathy (muscle pain and cramping).
I’m often approached by patients on statins with this complaint. Their goal when they come to see me is to reduce and ultimately discontinue statins by modifying their diet and exercise plans.
Lifestyle modification is a powerful ally.
How much do lifestyle changes reduce heart disease risk?
The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging investigated 501 healthy men and their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The authors concluded that those who consumed five servings or more of fruits and vegetables daily with <12 percent saturated fat had a 76 percent reduction in their risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who did not (5). The authors theorized that eating more fruits and vegetables helped to displace saturated fats from the diet. These results are impressive and, to achieve them, they only required a modest change in diet.
The Nurses’ Health Study shows that these results are also seen in women. Lifestyle modification reduced the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) (6). Many times, this is the first manifestation of heart disease in women. The authors looked at four parameters of lifestyle modification, including a Mediterranean-type diet, exercise, smoking and body mass index. There was a decrease in SCD that was dose-dependent, meaning the more factors incorporated, the greater the risk reduction. There was as much as a 92 percent decrease in SCD risk when all four parameters were followed. Thus, it is possible to almost eliminate the risk of SCD for women with lifestyle modifications.
In a cohort study of high-risk participants and those with heart disease, patients implemented extensive lifestyle modification: a plant-based, whole foods diet accompanied by exercise and stress management. The results showed an improvement in biomarkers, as well as in cognitive function and overall quality of life. The best part is the results occurred over a very short period — three months from the start of the trial (7). Outside of this study environment, many of my own patients have experienced similar results.
How do you monitor your heart disease risk?
Physicians use cardiac biomarkers, including blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index, alongside inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein to monitor your risk. Ideally, if you need to use medications to treat risk factors for heart disease, it should be for the short term. For some patients, it may be appropriate to use medication and lifestyle changes together; for patients who take an active role, lifestyle modifications may be sufficient.
By focusing on developing heart-healthy habits, you can improve the likelihood that you— and those you love — will be around for a long time.
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.
Valentine’s Day is about expressing love for special people in your life. One way to do so is to pamper that person as much as possible. That can mean starting the day off with a delicious breakfast in bed for a romantic start to your February 14th.
Muffins can be prepared in advance and are easy to enjoy in hand for a breakfast that involves lounging and love. “Blackberry Crunch Muffins” marry coffee cake and muffin elements and tart berries for something that is equal parts breakfast and dessert. What better idea for Valentine’s Day?
Try this recipe, courtesy of Lord Honey Traditional Southern Recipes (Pelican Publishing) by Chef Jason Smith and Cupid approved.
Blackberry Crunch Muffins
YIELD: Makes 12 muffins
INGREDIENTS:
2 1⁄4 cups self-rising flour
1 cup white sugar
1⁄4 cup brown sugar
1⁄2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3⁄4 cup full-fat buttermilk
11⁄2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
Zest of 1 lime
Crunch topping:
1⁄2 cup white sugar
1⁄4 cup brown sugar, packed
1⁄2 cup self-rising flour
1⁄2 cup quick-cook oats
1⁄4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1⁄2 cup chopped walnuts
5 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Juice of 1 lime
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease or line a 12-hole muffin tin. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and sugars. Add the oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk, and stir to combine. In a small bowl, toss the blackberries with 1 tablespoon flour, then add the berries and zest to the batter and lightly fold them in.
Place the crunch topping ingredients in a bowl and mix with a fork until large crumbles form. Divide the batter evenly into the muffin tin, and sprinkle tops with crunch mixture. Bake for 22 to 28 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack. Place the glaze ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined. Drizzle over cooled muffins.
13. Valentine’s Day Yappy Hour
