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Heart-Smart Eating With Herbs
Add Flavor Without Fat or Sodium
By Donna Smith
More than ever before, Americans are aware of the need to take care of their hearts. A big part of this care is "heart-smart eating," which the American Heart Association (AHA) defines as consuming foods that decrease the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and life-threatening illnesses such as heart and blood vessel disease, while avoiding foods that increase these risks.
The AHA developed basic dietary guidelines – called "Strive for Five" – to help reduce the risk of blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. These guidelines include tips such as eating a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits and whole-grains; balancing food intake with physical activity; choosing a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol; choosing a diet low in sugar and sodium; and drinking alcohol in moderation. Focusing on these factors can improve and maintain cholesterol, blood pressure and weight.
Eating "heart-healthy" doesn't mean a diet of bland and tasteless foods. According to Carol Ritchie, national volunteer spokesperson for the American Heart Association, heart-healthy eating is "an exciting array of delicious food including lean meats, colorful vegetables and fruits and hearty whole-grains prepared using low-fat and low-sodium cooking methods."
When you decrease the fat and sodium content in a recipe, you must replace the flavor in other ways. One way is by using herbs. "Herbs add a fragrant and flavorful boost, and today we have such a great variety of herbs to 
choose from!" says Ritchie.
