This morning, I’m in Chicago sharing tips for National Heart Health M0nth on 30 different TV and radio affiliates across the country. Heart disease is the number one health rise for men and women. I am honored to be sharing the latest evidence based research with over 15 million viewers and listeners across the country and tangible nutrition tips for a healthy heart.
A recent survey conducted by OnePoll found that nearly 50% of respondents hope to diversify the types of dishes they cook BUT don’t know where to start. In honor of National Heart Health Month, I shared three healthy recipes to help diversify your daily meals.
My number one tip is to have an all-purpose cooking oil on hand like cholesterol-free, heart healthy corn oil. One of my favorite ways to use it is in marinades which I do for my Grilled Chicken Power Bowl. Simply add oil, pepper, dried parsley and garlic powder –marinate your chicken for 30 minutes before grilling, slicing and plating. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is important to heart health in fact, even a 1 percent reduction in (LDL) cholesterol has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease by 2-3 percent.
I also baked my Blueberry Walnut Corn Bread Muffins made with better-for-you ingredients like fresh blueberries and heart healthy oil. The American Heart Association issued a presidential advisory that strongly advised replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats. Doing so may reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 30 percent.
Finally, I shared my Shrimp Scampi made with zucchini noodles instead of pasta. Because corn oil has a high smoke point, it performs well in a variety of cooking applications, from grilling and sautéing to stir-frying and baking. All cooking oils have a smoke point that, once exceeded, negatively affects the food’s flavor and nutrition. So you want to choose a cooking oil with a high smoke point.
