- Love Your Heart This Valentine's Day
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Americans are Getting Smarter
about Heart Health
(ARA) - Valentine’s Day,
February 14th, is a day that traditionally evokes feelings of
the heart -- of flowers, romance and marriage proposals. But
this Valentine’s Day, many Americans are thinking about
their hearts in a far more serious way. They’re learning
that a healthful low-fat diet, a regular exercise program, and
finding ways to deal with life’s stresses boost heart health. |
According to the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, heart disease is the leading cause
of death in the United States. Death from heart attack, stroke,
and other cardiovascular diseases claims one American life every
34 seconds.
Like any other muscle in the
body, the heart requires preventive care if it is to continue
to operate at top form. While some people are afflicted with
congenital heart disease, most people who are affected can point
to the way they live as a contributor to their problems. Fortunately,
with lifestyle changes, many of these contributing factors can
be lessened or eliminated entirely.
Smoking: The risk of heart disease for smokers
is more than twice that of non-smokers. Smokers who quit now
will greatly reduce their risk of heart disease and heart attack.
High Fat/High Cholesterol
Diet: There are many
wonderful food products available today that are free of cholesterol
and saturated fat. Imagine Foods, a natural foods company, makes
an array of beverages (Rice Dream and Soy Dream), soups (Imagine
Natural Organic Soups and Broths), and Soy Dream and Rice Dream
Frozen Desserts that are nondairy, cholesterol free and delicious.
In 2001, the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) said that foods containing at least
6.25 grams of soy protein per serving that are also "low
fat," can claim to be “heart healthy” on their
products’ labels, because these foods play a part in reducing
the risk of heart disease. Imagine Foods’ Soy Dream Beverages,
by way of example, has 7 grams of soy protein in an 8-ounce serving,
so it is considered a “heart healthy” food product
according to the FDA’s guidelines.
High Blood Pressure: A healthy diet (low in saturated fat
and cholesterol, high in grains, fruits and vegetables (a plant
based diet), losing weight, exercising regularly, restricting
sodium, and using medication might help lower blood pressure
to a healthy level.
Family history of coronary
artery disease: Make
sure that you and your Valentine are aware of your individual
medical histories, and that you consult a health care provider
for a complete physical.
Diabetes: The incidence of type 2 diabetes is
nearing epidemic proportions in the United States. Many people
who are overweight or obese are at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Lack of exercise: In 1996 the U.S. Surgeon General’s
Report on Physical Activity and Health advised Americans to get
at least a half-hour of vigorous exercise each day. This year,
the National Academies' Institute of Medicine recommended doubling
the amount of physical activity from 30 minutes to 60 minutes
of moderately intense physical activity each day. Take your Valentine
for a long walk; you’ll be doing both of you good.
Obesity: An estimated 120 million adults in
the United States. are overweight or obese. Weight control can
be accomplished by various methods including changing your diet
to include more “heart healthy” ingredients like those
made without saturated fat and cholesterol. Instead of enjoying
cream style soups full of dairy and saturated fats, try Imagine
Natural Organic Soups and Broths, they’re creamy, delicious
and completely dairy and cholesterol free.
Stress: Exercise is a wonderful stress reliever, but
there are plenty of other ways to stop life’s pressures
from reaching the boiling point. Some include keeping a journal,
meditating regularly, reading novels that “take you away,”
spending time with friends and family and trying your hand at
healthy all natural recipes, like those below. Your heart, and
your Valentine, will be grateful. Enjoy!
Should you want a hot and spicy
Valentine’s Day, try this delicious Gazpacho soup -- it’s
red, the color of passion!
Gazpacho Your Heart
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 large fresh tomato diced
- 1 large cucumber, peeled,
seeded, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 quart Imagine Organic Creamy
Tomato Soup
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon red Tabasco sauce
- 2 teaspoons green Tabasco
sauce
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
to taste
Puree first 4 ingredients in
processor or blender and set aside. Combine fresh tomato, 1/2
of the cucumber and 1/2 of the green pepper in small bowl; set
aside.
Add Imagine Organic Creamy
Tomato Soup, cilantro, tomato paste and remaining cucumber and
green pepper to processor. Blend until chunky puree forms. Add
the red and green Tabasco sauces, salt and pepper.
Move gazpacho to large serving
bowl and mix in reserved vegetables. Cover and refrigerate until
well chilled before serving. Serve with a rib of celery and a
sprinkle of cilantro for garnish.
Tofu Cheesecake
Should you want your Valentine’s
Day to be velvety smooth, serve up this "cheesecake"
topped with fresh fruit (consider fresh strawberries in keeping
with the Valentine’s Day “red” theme). Agar flakes,
which are made from seaweed, are used as a thickener. Look for
them in natural food stores or Asian markets.
- 1 nine-inch baked crumb crust
- 2 tablespoons agar flakes
- 2/3 cup Soy Dream Original
or Rice Dream Original Beverage
- 1/2 cup turbinado sugar, Sucanat
or other sweetener
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound firm tofu
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Fresh fruit for topping (strawberries,
kiwi fruit, etc.)
Combine the agar and Soy Dream
or Rice Dream in a saucepan and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in
the sugar and salt. Simmer over low heat, stirring frequently,
for 5 minutes.
Pour into a blender and add
the tofu, lemon juice, lemon peel, and vanilla. Blend until very
smooth. Spread evenly into a prepared crust.
Refrigerate 30 minutes, and
then top with fresh fruit. Chill thoroughly before serving.
Per serving: 192 calories;
8 g protein; 36 g carbohydrate; 2 g fat; 247 mg sodium; 0 mg
cholesterol
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Recipes by Jennifer Raymond,
author of The Peaceful Palate and Fat-Free & Easy.
Imagine Foods has maintained
its commitment to making the highest quality, most delicious
all-natural foods. The company’s products are available
in natural food stores and select grocery stores throughout North
America. For more information on Imagine Foods products and vision,
please visit www.imaginefoods.com.
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ARTICLE POSTED
FEBRUARY 12, 2003 |
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