Spring Fashion is All about Colour

Yes, we know it is hard to imagine the warmth of spring in the middle of February, but we’d like to liven up a cold winter day with thoughts of brighter days to come.

To that end, we’ll summarize some of the hot fashion trends for spring, courtesy of Flare.com.

• Colour is everywhere and the brighter, the better. Oranges, reds, and bright pinks are among the most popular shades.

• Along with all of that colour comes some very bold patterns. Colour blocking of unexpected shades is one trend (seen here), as are bold florals and stripes (seen here).

• Comfort is in, as seen in wide-legged pants, relaxed tailoring, and beautifully draped fabrics.

• Contrasting trends are also making an appearance. The seeming opposite of the bold colours and prints described above, some designers showed a minimalist trend for spring, with clean lines and light colours.

• Makeup is also following the trend towards brighter colours, with bright magenta and orange for lips and bold blues, greens, and even yellows for eyes.

Not ready to don an outfit with bold swaths of turquoise and orange or take a chance on magenta lipstick? You are not alone. In our next post, we’ll talk about some of the subtle ways you can incorporate the latest colour trends in your look without going overboard.

Tempted by That Heart-Shaped Box of Chocolates? Go Ahead and Indulge

At this time of year, chocolate is everywhere. You might be interested to know that, on a global scale, Canadians are way down on the list of chocolate consumption. According to one source, we consumed about 3.9 kg of chocolate per capita in 2005, nowhere near the amount eaten in Germany (11.12 kg per person), Belgium (11.03 kg per person), or Switzerland (10.74 kg per person).

Despite our lower consumption, we in North America do love our chocolate. It is the favourite flavour of 52% of us, with fruit flavours and vanilla being first choice for a mere 12% of us. Seems we like chocolate most during the dark days of winter, the season where the most chocolate is consumed. Many of us also like to eat it before bed—22% of all chocolate consumption occurs between 8PM and midnight. (Find more facts at The World Atlas of Chocolate.)

The health benefits of chocolate have been widely reported in the past few years. It contains antioxidants, which can reduce the risk of developing cancer and heart disease. Initial studies have also discovered a possible link between chocolate consumption and a lower risk of stroke and stroke-related mortality. Chocolate is a major source of dietary copper. It is also rich in minerals like iron and magnesium.

Chocolate consumption has been linked to longer life—but only if eaten in small amounts. Those who indulge three or more times a week have been shown to have higher mortality rates than those who enjoy chocolate one to three times per month.

So indulge in that box of Valentine’s chocolates, but, for the sake of your health, eat it slowly and savour every bite!

February is Heart Month

February is Heart Month in Canada. The Heart & Stroke Foundation uses this month to raise funds and awareness about heart disease and stroke.

In support of their efforts, we would like to share some valuable information about heart disease and stroke. (All facts and figures come from http://www.heartandstroke.com.)

· Nine in ten Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke. These risk factors include: smoking, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, being overweight, stress, diabetes, and excessive consumption of alcohol.

· Adopting a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet can help reduce your risk. If you are overweight, even a 5% drop in your weight can make a big difference.

· Excess weight around the waist is more dangerous than extra pounds around the hips or thighs. To find out if you have a healthy waistline, click this link.

· Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death among women. Women can visit thehearttruth.com to learn more about their specific risks.

· Many people do not recognize the signs of a heart attack or stroke and fail to get medical treatment in time. If you or someone you know is at risk, knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke or heart attack could make all the difference. Click these links to learn more: heart attack warning signs or stroke warning signs.

Learning more about heart disease and stroke is one of the best preventative measures we can take. We invite you to share this blog post and spread the word about the risks, signs, and preventative strategies for heart disease and stroke.