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You’ve been reading about heart health and you’re convinced! You’re pumped! You’re ready to commit! You’re joined a gym and you’re working out. Now, the time has come to address that dirty little four letter word – D-I-E-T.
Groan! Not another diet!!! The very word just makes me cringe.
I’ve been on so many diets in my lifetime that I refuse to go on yet another diet no matter how popular or how much it guarantees results. Frankly, I’m tired of always being on a diet. This time, I’m on the lookout for something real – something genuine.
You know, something with real food that real people can eat. In other words, I want a diet that is something I can live with and incorporate into my daily life. No more feeling guilty about falling off the diet wagon. I want a permanent lifestyle change in my eating habits that I can live with.
The internet is an amazing tool. In looking for heart healthy recipes, I came across several interesting resources. One is the Heart-Healthy Recipes page sponsored by the Mayo Clinic. Who would have thought the Mayo Clinic was in the business of putting out such great recipes?
The main Heart-Healthy Recipe page is organized much the same way you’d expect a traditional cookbook to look. Recipes are divided into main categories which are familiar, so it’s easy to navigate. Categories include recipes for appetizers, beverages, breads, desserts, main dishes, side dishes, salads, sandwiches, sauces and dips, and soups.
In addition to the standard ingredient list and directions (which are very easy to read and understand), every recipe also provides you with a “Dietician’s tip.” I found the Dietician’s tips to be quite interesting. For example, some tips reference other foods that the recipe would work well with. In addition, the Dietician’s tip also provides information regarding the nutritional content and their health benefits. For example, the recipe on Almond and Apricot Biscotti provides the consumer with the additional information that this is recipe is a good source of manganese and selenium and then discusses the health benefits provided by manganese and selenium.
Each recipe is accompanied by a complete nutritional analysis, which includes information on various nutritional factors such as calories, cholesterol, protein, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, total fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, potassium, calcium. Additionally, information is also provided for each recipe (at least each one that I checked personally) regarding the recipe exchanges for the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid, Diabetes Meal Plan Exchange, and Dash Eating Plan Servings.
The Healthy Weight Pyramid is a tool provided by The Mayo Clinic which provides daily eating recommendations depending on whether your goal is to lose weight or maintain your current weight. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Plan is specifically geared towards helping people lower and control high blood pressure. Since weight, diabetes and high blood pressure are all risk factors for heart disease, I really liked the fact that this site provided you with information for each recipe with respect to the various risk factors as well.
While this article isn’t meant to be a formal review of the Heart Healthy Recipe page, I found it to be a great resource. So, if you’re looking to make some lifestyle changes in your eating habits, this might be a useful site to visit.
Until next time, here’s wishing you a healthy heart.
Source:
Mayo Clinic Staff, Heart-Healthy Recipes, The Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-healthy-recipes/RE00098
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