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The heart beats, but it also feels

Feb. 14, 2011

While the food industry's R&D teams focus on producing foods that are healthy for the heart, Valentine's Day is the one day of the year we concentrate on those who make our hearts go pitter-patter. The Sublime Engine: A Biography of the Human Heart, written by two brothers Stephen Amidon (a writer) and Thomas Amidon (a cardiologist) explores both sides of the human heart, reports CBS News Sunday Morning. Interviewed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for the Health, Medical & Wellness unit at CNN, Thomas Amidon said the the heart is a pump that beats some 2.5 billion times in a normal life span, but his brother points out that romantics everywhere associate it with love.Yes, the heart beats, but it also feels.

Seventy million Americans will celebrate Valentine's Day at a restaurant this year, according to the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Younger adults are more likely to enjoy a special Valentine's Day meal at a restaurant than older adults; 33 percent of 18-34-year olds, and 39 percent of 35-44-year olds say they plan to dine out for a Valentine's Day meal, compared with 27 percent of those 55 and older. For younger consumers, a romantic atmosphere carries more weight when choosing a restaurant on Valentine's Day than it does for older adults. Thirty-nine percent of 18-34-year olds said that was the most important factor for them, compared with only 8 percent of those 65 and older.Most American men will spend an average of $157.71 for Valentine's Day merchandise, while women will spend $75.79 each, on average, up 11 percent over last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Even family pets will be feeling more of the love this year, with the average person spending $5.04 on their furry friends, up from $3.27 last year. Consumers will also spend an average of $6.30 on friends, $4.97 on classmates and teachers, and $3.41 on co-workers.

Total holiday spending is expected to reach $15.7 billion.Consumers will spend $3.5 billion on jewelry this Valentine's Day, $1.6 billion on clothing, $3.4 billion on a night on the town, $1.7 billion on flowers, $1.5 billion on candy and $1.1 billion on greeting cards, reports Laurel Leader-Call. Greeting cards are another popular Valentine's staple. They come in second only to Christmas in sales, according to the Greeting Card Association.

And don't underestimate the allure of a heart-shaped box of chocolates. According to the National Confectioners Association, $1.17 billion will be spent on candy this Valentine's Day, compared to $1.12 billion last year. "It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate," famously said Miranda Ingram.Happy Valentine's Day!

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