Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US for both men and women.1 The disease is usually accompanied by atherosclerosis, or the build-up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other materials (called plaque) in the arteries that bring blood and oxygen to your heart.2 As the build-up compounds, the heart is forced to work harder.
Ninety percent of people diagnosed with heart disease have at least one of these risk factors: 1
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Though these stats are not too pleasant to ponder, there is some good news: many heart disease risk factors can be avoided by making healthy lifestyle choices. One of the major weapons to warding off heart disease is a healthy diet.3
Introducing the Balanced Plate…..
The UDSA recently revamped the former food pyramid with a fresh, relatable icon – the dinner plate. The symbolization of the plate stresses the importance of portion sizes within food groups and for an entire meal.
Grains should make up one quarter of our ‘plates’ at any particular meal. The USDA recommends that at least half the grains we consume daily are whole grains.4 The dietary fiber found in whole grains can lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the incidences of heart disease.5 In addition, fiber has the added benefit of making us feel full on fewer calories, which helps with weight management, thereby helping to elude one of the risk factors associated with heart disease.
For those who eat a gluten free diet, it is important to make strategic grain choices to ensure adequate consumption of whole grains and fiber for a balanced, heart-healthy diet.
Gluten free whole grain options include:7
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Research has found that few gluten free products are enriched with micro-nutrients or heart-healthy fiber. Often, those newly diagnosed Celiac Disease have micro-nutrient and fiber deficiencies.6
Introducing Udi’s Millet-Chia Bread, Blueberry Oat Muffin Tops, and Omega, Flax & Fiber Bread…..
Udi’s product offerings include a variety of meal and snack options that are packed with heart healthy fiber, whole grains, omega 3/6/9 fatty acids, and essential vitamins and minerals. Take a look at three of Udi’s newer additions, the Millet-Chia Bread, Blueberry Oat Muffin Tops, and Omega, Flax & Fiber Bread below:
Here’s an added bonus; not only are these products nutritious, they taste great too! We are happy to continue to provide great tasting, gluten free, and nutritious products that can fit into your heart healthy diet. Check them out and let us know what you think!
1http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_disease.htm
2http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/
3http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002436.htm
4 http://www.choosemyplate.gov/print-materials-ordering/selected-messages.html
5http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Whole-Grains-and-Fiber_UCM_303249_Article.jsp
6http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15825119
7http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org/node/27/print
