Frighteningly 1 in 3 adults suffer from some form of heart disease including high blood pressure, heart attacks, even erectile dysfunction in men. Heart Disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. and one person dies every 37 seconds from heart disease. Even more scary, 850,000 have had a non-fatal heart attack. Did you know five times more women die from heart attacks than from cancer?
So let’s talk about how you can help prevent you and your loved ones from becoming one of these terrifying statistics.
Heart attacks and strokes are occurring in younger people. Did you know that by age 12, many of our children have developed the beginning stages of hardening of the arteries? Moreover, it is being discovered that hardening of the arteries is starting even earlier- in the womb. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children as young as eight years old be treated with cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.
Did you know that 75% of all chronic disease is preventable with diet and lifestyle? Diet is the most powerful tool in prevention. We have more control than we think. When we know more, we can do more. Start taking care of your blood vessels now by taking control of your fork. Plants have been scientifically proven to reduce, reverse and negate heart disease. Here are some Heart Healthy options, from our hearts to yours.
Morning Glory Overnight Oats
Cinnamon, ginger, carrot, yum. Bonus points for being something you make ahead of time for busy mornings.
Heart health note: The benefits of whole-grain oats (not the instant stuff) include a decreased risk of heart disease.
Spiced Lentils
These are so easy to make — five minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of letting these rich smells fill your kitchen.
Heart-health note: Apart from tasting great, lentils are high in soluble fiber, magnesium, and folate.
Asparagus, Pea, and Tomato Quinotto
Yes, it’s a quinoa-based variation on risotto. And yes, it is delicious.
Heart-health note: Quinoa contains a bit of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids (which are also featured in our Omega Blend!). It’s one reason quinoa is part of Complete by Juice Plus+ nutrition bars.
Chickpea Polenta with Olives
Tomato, Kalamata olive, a little cheese: There’s a lot to like here. Don’t let the ingredient list put you off — prep on this one is simpler than it looks.
Heart-health note: Chickpea flour is gluten free and packed with nutrients, including fiber and protein. P.S. Is chickpea powder part of Complete by Juice Plus+ shake mix? Yes, it is.
Blackberry Cobbler
Ginger and lime juice jazz up this American Heart Association recipe.
Heart-health note: Blackberries (and many of their purple cousins) are high in anthocyanins.
Simple Almond Cookies
These flourless cookies are so, so good — with or without the bittersweet chocolate.
Heart-health note: Monounsaturated fats, like those in almonds, are being linked to heart health.
Ready to learn more about simple yet powerful ways to take back control of your heart, your health and your life?
