/R E P E A T -- Celebrate World Heart Day with "Well Traveled" Healthy
Recipes/

World Heart Federation and CanolaInfo Team Up to Promote Smart Eating for the Heart

WINNIPEG, Sept. 2 /CNW/ - Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world, accounting for about a third (more than 17 million) of all lost lives. The good news is a healthy lifestyle can save the majority of these lives by preventing heart disease in the first place. In honor of World Heart Day on Sept. 26, 2010, CanolaInfo has joined forces with the World Heart Federation to promote global heart health.

"No matter where you're from, up to 80 percent of heart attacks are preventable with appropriate attention to nine risk factors, including smoking, abnormal cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, stress, abdominal obesity, sedentary lifestyle, eating too few fruits and vegetables and abstaining from alcohol," says Eldon Smith, O.C., M.D., cardiologist, emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Calgary and chair of the Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan.

Six culinary experts from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, China and India created a World Heart-Smart Recipe Collection for CanolaInfo, supported by the World Heart Federation, which creates a "passport" to nutrition using traditional ethnic flavors and heart-healthy ingredients. Recipes include:

    
    -   United States: Fusilli Pasta with Chile Sauce and Black Bean-Fennel
        Relish by Carla Hall, finalist on Bravo's "Top Chef" Season 5,
        Washington, D.C.
    -   Canada: Grilled Salmon with Dijon-Raspberry Vinaigrette by Mairlyn
        Smith, cookbook author, Toronto
    -   Mexico: Shredded Chicken Tostadas with Spicy Tomato Salsa by Alfredo
        Oropeza, host of "Al Sabor del Chef" and cookbook author, Mexico City
    -   China: Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup by Stella Fong, food writer,
        Billings, Mont.
    -   Japan: Steamed Snapper with Citrus Sweet and Sour Sauce by Gene Kato,
        executive chef of Japonais restaurant, Chicago
    -   India: Spiced Garbanzo Bean Pie with Potato Crust by Raghavan Iyer,
        cookbook author, Minneapolis
    

Each recipe is made with canola oil, which has the least saturated fat of all cooking oils and is free of trans fat and cholesterol. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a qualified health claim for canola oil on its potential to reduce the risk of heart disease when used in place of saturated fat.

"It's easy to forget that heart disease is not just a problem in one's own country but also around the world," says World Heart Federation Senior Science Officer Kathryn Taubert, Ph.D. "Diet plays a significant role in protecting or predisposing people to heart disease, so we hope to inspire them to eat more healthfully and make simple changes that may reduce their risk of the disease."

For the entire heart-smart recipe collection or more information about canola oil, go to www.canolainfo.org. For heart health tips, go to www.worldheart.org.

The World Heart Federation is dedicated to leading the global fight against heart disease and stroke through a united community of more than 200 member organizations. It works to build global commitment to addressing cardiovascular health at the policy level, generates and exchanges ideas, shares best practices, advances scientific knowledge and promotes knowledge transfer to tackle cardiovascular disease - the world's number one killer.

CanolaInfo is the information source about canola oil for consumers, health professionals, chefs, media, educators - everyone who wants to know more about one of the world's healthiest oils. The CanolaInfo team is supported by Canada's canola growers, crop input suppliers, exporters, processors, food manufacturers and governments.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: Five photos accompanying this release are available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Angela Dansby, e-mail: [email protected]. Editors: For high-resolution recipe photos or an interview with Dr. Smith, e-mail Lauren Svoboda at [email protected]