Love Your Heart

I want to start with my Chocolate Pudding WIN... in case you want a healthier dessert option for Valentine's Day or any day.

This is the pudding I made.
Creamy! Not lumpy like the
chia seed pudding :)

It's Raw Avocado Cacao Mousse and it's from www.onegreenplanet.org. I changed the ingredients a little, based on what I had, and it produced a beautiful, yummy mousse. My husband was out of town, and my son ate one small bowl every evening until they were gone.

This recipe makes six servings. Though the ingredients are healthier than most, this still packs quite a few calories. 

• 3/4 cup almond milk (I used coconut milk)
• 3 avocados, stone removed and flesh scooped out of the skin
• just over a cup of cacao nibs or powder (make sure it's unsweetened)
• 1/4 cup agave nectar, or maple syrup (or 2 tsp powdered stevia for sugar-free option) (I used maple syrup)

While perusing www.onegreenplanet.org, I found this article which is worth sharing, 

5 Heart-Boosting Plant-Based Foods to Love Your Own Heart this Valentine’s Day

As Hippocrates once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” His words still ring true some 2,500 years ago. With a varied, balanced diet of whole foods, including fruits and vegetables, you can maintain optimal heart health. Being mindful of what’s on your plate and getting regular exercise may help prevent a future centered around prescription medication for all your ailments. It might also help reduce some medications already filling your bathroom cabinet.

This Valentine’s Day, while you shower your loved ones with affection, don’t forget about yourself or your heart. Your ticker deserves some loving, heart-boosting foods for the hard work it does every day!

Remember, though, not one food can miraculously promote heart health. It is the combination of many heart-healthy foods that can change your life. So, in honor of “the day of love” and the CDC’s American Heart Month, here are five plant-based foods to help you love your heart this Valentine’s Day:

Nuts

Oats

Beans

Tomatoes

Apples

Read the entire article, the link is below, it offers lots of good information and recipes for each of those foods. 

Action Item: Be good to your heart today! Eat right and/or get some exercise today.

For Further Reading: Same article I mentioned above, 5 Heart-Boosting Plant-Based Foods to Love Your Own Heart this Valentine’s Day

Heart Health Month

Every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack. About 600,000 people die from heart disease in the United States each year—that’s 1 out of every 4 deaths. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. (Centers for Disease Control (CDC))

Many of the risk factors of heart disease are controllable! As you'll see in the CDC's plan for prevention below. Please note that "eat a healthy diet" is on the top of the list.

We probably all know at least one person affected by heart disease. Those families may be well versed in this information and know what needs to be done to improve health in the future. For the rest of us, the CDC's website offers wonderful information on preventing heart disease. Check out the CDC link for more information; I've provided only the topics below:

Plan for Prevention

Some health conditions and lifestyle factors can put people at a higher risk for developing heart disease. You can help prevent heart disease by making healthy choices and managing any medical conditions you may have.

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly.
• Monitor your blood pressure.
• Don't smoke.
• Limit alcohol use.
• Have your cholesterol checked.
• Manage your diabetes.
• Take your medicine and follow your doctor's instructions.

For more ideas about simple steps to take every day for better heart health, visit the full page of tips. You can also follow the Million Hearts initiative on facebook and Twitter for even more ways to protect your heart and live a longer, healthier life. Million Hearts™ is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the United States by 2017. Together, we can prevent heart disease, one step at a time.


Action Item: If you are not already exercising, get out today and walk. Your heart will thank you!

For Further Reading: 28 Days to a Healthier Heart and Controllable Risk Factors of Heart Disease

Pomegranates

Our family adores pomegranate seeds. At one point, I dreaded buying them because it was a pain to get the seeds; it took lots of time and everything close by ended up covered with pomegranate juice. Until I saw this...How to De-seed a Pomegranate... and it really works!

The name for the pomegranate fruit is derived from Latin and literally means "seeded apple." Only the seeds are edible and are found inside this large, hexagonal-shaped red fruit. An average pomegranate contains about 600 juicy seeds, also known as arils, which are encapsulated in white pith. The pomegranate fruit is low in calories, high in fiber, high in vitamins and high in phytochemicals that may promote heart health and help to prevent cancer. (Livestrong.com)

Try them sprinkled over salads, swirled into yogurt, blended into a smoothie or of course as a snack by itself. Lots of recipes include pomegranate seeds, such as these at allrecipes.com. I have not tried these, but salads with pomegranates look especially yummy.


Action Item: Pomegranates are in season from Sept to February, so run to the store now!

For further reading: Health Benefits of Pomegranates and Pomegranate Power