Happy Heart Health Month! We're here to share health tips and recipes geared towards heart health! (And, of course, a few gifts to send from the heart for Valentine's Day!)

While no one can guarantee that eating fruits & veggies reduces your personal chance of heart disease, there is lots of research strongly suggesting that a diet high in fruits & vegetables goes a long way towards that goal. And it sure couldn't hurt!

Please scroll through the newsletter to check out this month's recipes and health tips. We've also included a few "fruitful" gift selections. What a delicious way to say you care, any day of the year!

Fruitfully yours,

If you are walking to improve your health and would like a supportive, interactive place to track your efforts...take a look. HeartHealthyOnline offers all kinds of resources for healthy living and healthy eating! Of course, as always, check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Dr. Victor Fulgoni analyzed adult food consumption data collected in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey -- the government's largest food consumption and health database.

"We found that adults who eat apples and apple products have smaller waistlines that indicate less abdominal fat, lower blood pressure and a reduced risk for developing what is known as metabolic syndrome," Fulgoni said in a statement.

Additionally, adult apple-product consumers had significantly reduced C-reactive protein levels -- a biomarker of inflammation used to detect increased risk for diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

These looked so good I couldn't resist, even though I wouldn't typically think of "zucchini" in context with the word "dessert"!
What do you know, you can have a dessert that's healthful AND delicious!

This is a one-serving recipe that is easy and delicious!

Ingredients:


1 English muffin
2 tablespoons whipped fat-free strawberry cream cheese
1/3 cup strawberries, sliced
¼ cup red grapes, quartered
¼ cup canned mandarin oranges, drained

I figure why reinvent the wheel when other experts have already posted fabulous information?! So here is a great piece from the Produce for Better Health Foundation's Fruits and Veggies More Matters (TM) website, from Jennifer Egeland with Hen House Markets:

February is Heart Health Month, the perfect time to focus on foods that help keep your heart healthy. Two groups of foods that are good for the heart are fruits and vegetables! These are good for your heart because of what they do contain and because of what they dont contain. Fruits and vegetables are already naturally low in fat, calories and sodium, and they have no cholesterol.

They also contain fiber and water as well as many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help keep your heart healthy. The key is to fill your plate with a variety of fruits and vegetables every day because  More Matters!