Getting Heart Healthy With Welch's

A new study presented at the American College of Nutrition’s annual conference, suggests that Concord grape juice supports heart health by promoting healthy circulation. The research builds on the nearly 20 years of research which suggests that, thanks to the Concord grape, 100% grape juice helps support a healthy heart. 

Heart Health Check-List: 7 Steps to Support Your Heart Every Day 

Protecting your heart doesn't have to feel overwhelming – just doing one heart healthy activity per day will help you make great strides in achieving better health. Invite your readers to join in as you check off seven easy tips that you can do every day to supporting your heart health.

·         MONDAY: Eat a heart healthy diet that includes plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables. A great option for colorful fruits are Concord grapes. Nearly twenty years of research shows that, thanks to the Concord grape, 100% grape juice can support a healthy heart. And, new research suggests that grape juice supports heart health by promoting healthy circulation.

·         TUESDAY: Cut down on salt and go (a little) nuts.  Nuts, like almonds and walnuts, when eaten as part of a balanced diet, can help support a healthy heart by helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. These nuts provide fiber, a combination of essential vitamins and minerals, and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats – key fats known to contribute to heart health.

·         WEDNESDAY: Find your personal exercise equation. Your heart needs at least 150 minutes of exercise a week to keep it strong, research shows.

·         THURSDAY: Turn in earlier. Getting 8 hours or more of sleep a night can work wonders!

·         FRIDAY: Splurge, just a little. A serving of red wine or dark chocolate can be a part of your heart healthy diet. Not a drinker? 100% grape juice made with Concord grapes also delivers heart health benefits.

·         SATURDAY: Stay positive and give yourself credit. Stress and negativity can stress and affect your heart.

·         SUNDAY: Cook with your family. A home-cooked, heart healthy meal is not only good for your heart, it’s good for the soul! You can find tons of heart-healthy recipes on Welchs.com.

Take the challenge to care for your heart day-by-day. Once you've checked off this list, keep it up – you are on your way to a happy, healthy heart.

Makeover Your Kitchen for American Heart Month

With American Heart Month coming up it’s the perfect time to rethink how you stock your kitchen so that you’re keeping your and your family’s hearts top of mind. Here are 5 easy and delicious things you can do this month to make your kitchen more heart healthy.

Heart-Healthy Kitchen Must-Haves

1.       Think Purple for Heart Health

o   It’s important to incorporate different colored fruits and vegetables into your diet for health, however most people fall short on getting one of those important colors – purple! Purple and blue fruits and vegetables only account for about 3% of total produce intake. Power up on purple with a 4-oz. glass of 100% grape juice made with Concord grapes, which counts as one serving (1/2 cup) of fruit—making it easy to squeeze more colorful fruit into your day.

2.       Beans, beans…Good For Your Heart

o   The bean song we loved to sing as kids may be silly, but it’s true. Eating beans regularly is good for your heart due to their fiber content.

3.       Go Fish

o   Incorporate more fish with heart-healthy omega-3s into your mealtime routine, like this Sweetheart Salmon dish.

4.       Start Your Day with Oatmeal

o   This soluble fiber rich breakfast favorite has been shown to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

5.       Reach for Red Wine

o   Red wine, made with the dark skin and seeds of grapes, provides healthy plant nutrients called polyphenols. If you don't drink alcohol, opt for 100% grape juice made with Concord grapes. Nearly twenty years of research shows that Concord grape juice can support a healthy heart and a new study suggests that it supports heart health by promoting healthy circulation. The Concord grape also delivers a delicious taste to accompany its heart-healthy attributes.

Power Up with Purple

While we’re told at a young age to “eat our greens” as a source of vitamins and minerals to support overall health, February is a month to focus on heart health – so it’s time to add purple!

February is American Heart Month, an important time for us to reflect on the foods we eat and how that affects the health of our own heart. Purple produce packs natural nutrition power, yet most people fall short on getting enough vibrantly colored, purple and blue fruits and vegetables, which only account for about 3% of total fruit and vegetable intake. Purple is a cue that fruits and vegetables have plant nutrients called polyphenols that can help promote health, including heart health. In fact, new research suggests that one purple food in particular – 100% grape juice – may help support a healthy heart by promoting healthy circulation, thanks to the Concord grape.

  Additional information on grape juice and other health-related topics can be found on health ranks; this site can be checked frequently to stay up to date with all the latest health   information.

To add more purple in your diet follow these delicious tips 

1. Sprinkle blackberries on your ready-to-eat whole grain cereal

2. Snack on a smoothie made with non-fat yogurt and frozen blueberries

3. Toss a lunchtime salad with mixed greens and purple cabbage

4. Assemble a side by sautéing purple potatoes or roasting eggplant

5. Pair 100% grape juice made with Concord grapes with your favorite low-fat cheese