(Washington, D.C., January 24, 2008) While Valentine’s Day and romantic affairs of the heart take center stage in February, the overall healthfulness of your heart can be determined in large measure by nutrition. So while a bouquet of flowers may take care of the romantic side of your life, The International Food Information Council (IFIC) is providing some nutrition information to coincide with American Heart Month. It turns out consumers are a bit unclear about the healthfulness of their heart. In fact, a recent survey commissioned by the IFIC showed that about half of consumers (53 percent) mention their heart and circulatory conditions as a top health concern. So what can consumers do to keep their concerns at bay? In addition to physical activity, eating certain types of food can certainly contribute to a healthier heart and lifestyle.
Features on IFIC.org include the following Heart Health-related offerings:
Ø Whole grain goodness—Find out how eating a diet rich in whole grains is associated with reduced risk of heart disease.
Ø Antioxidants never looked better—Find out what healthful benefits are in store when consuming foods with antioxidants. You’ll eat your fruits and vegetables and maybe even your chocolate with newfound appreciation for their benefits.
Ø Are all fats created equal?—Check out information on how Omega-3 fatty acids assist in heart health and how they compare to other fats.
Ø Things that may sound unfamiliar, but helps your heart— You may not know a lot about them, but plant stanols and sterols as well as soy are great contributors to heart health. Consider their nutritional benefits a Valentine’s Day gift you can give to yourself all year round.
AND: It’s never too early for kids to get in the habit of knowing how to take care of their heart. Kidnetic.com, a project of the IFIC Foundation offers information and tasty recipes to keep kids heart healthy.
For additional information on heart-health related food safety and nutrition issues, or to schedule an interview with an expert please call the IFIC Foundation Media Team at 202-296-6540.
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The International Food Information Council (IFIC) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to effectively communicate science-based information on food safety and nutrition to health and nutrition professionals, educators, government officials, journalists and others providing information to consumers. IFIC is supported primarily by the broad-based food, beverage and agricultural industries. For interviews with experts or for more information, call (202) 296-6540.
