Category: Heart-smart eating

– posts here focus on latest cardiac news or research about what we put into our mouths

Live long and prosper – by eating responsibly

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 2 Comments

Kentucky cardiologist Dr. Melissa Walton-Shirley is worried about what she calls our ‘obesity epidemic’, and she points to the unlikely inspiration of Star Trek to address this epidemic:  the very Vulcan-like philosophy that “logic must prevail”.

Dr. Walton-Shirley thinks that North Americans have a bizarre obsession with food instead of a healthy appreciation of it.

“Our obsession with overloaded plates of value-meal goodies has led to an epidemic of diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, stroke, heart disease and death – while the medical community as a whole has largely stood by and done nothing.”

Continue reading “Live long and prosper – by eating responsibly” →

Chocolate-covered bacon, and other ways to alter your brain chemistry

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 4 Comments

chocolate bacon

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

I am not making this up.  There is such a thing as chocolate-covered bacon. It’s apparently been around for years, featured at the Wisconsin State Fair and other fine culinary gatherings. Chocolate-covered bacon is the holy trinity of junk food: salt, fat and sugar, all in one divine morsel.  A heart attack on a plate.

The appeal of this concoction would be no surpise to Dr. David Kessler. The Harvard-trained doctor, lawyer, former Yale Medical School dean and commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration believes that this junk food combo – salt-fat-sugar – actually stimulates our brain to crave more.

Dr. Kessler’s book, The End of Over-eating, claims that foods high in salt, fat and sugar actually alter the brain’s chemistry in ways that compel people to over-eat. He told the Washington Post:

“Much of the scientific research around over-eating has been physiology – what’s going on in our body. The real question is what’s going on in our brain?” Continue reading “Chocolate-covered bacon, and other ways to alter your brain chemistry” →

A heart-smart recipe makeover contest

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ Leave a comment

food cooking blue kitchen

I grew up in a Ukrainian family where butter, bacon, sour cream and gravy were the four major food groups. Dill pickles were considered a vegetable course. The word ‘salad’ meant one of two things: a neon-green Jell-O™ moulded salad with grated carrots, or thick mayo cole slaw. Every lunch and dinner menu included homebaked pies, gooey butter tarts or layer cakes for desserts.  We were heart attacks waiting to happen.

Since my own heart attack, however, I have tried to adapt and improve many of my old favourite family recipes to boost their nutritional value.  Sometimes it means just replacing high-fat whipped cream with low-fat French Vanilla yogurt on a fruit crumble, but sometimes it’s a complete remodel of an old recipe. My heart-healthy Chocolate Fudge Brownies and Sushi Pizza are just two examples of how great taste can actually be surprisingly good for you. Find out more about the recipe makeover contest

My favourite recipe for heart-healthy Watermelon, Feta & Black Olive Salad

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 3 Comments

watermelon baby

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

What could possibly be better in life than an icy cold wedge of freshly-sliced watermelon on a hot summer afternoon? How about an icy cold watermelon salad?  It’s perfect served along with grilled salmon on the barbecue – and a unique heart-smart alternative to the classic picnic standard potato salad.  If you haven’t tried this unusual summertime salad, please do it while watermelons are at their peak in our farmers’ markets.  It’s also a beautiful-looking dish to bring along to your  next potluck this summer – guaranteed to stand out from all those other boring old salads around the table. keep reading to find the full recipe for this salad