Of all the health challenges, low sodium seems to be the very hardest.  That was confirmed recently by a colleague who recently told me he is eating low-sodium.  He buys low-sodium broth, tomato sauce, ketchup and low-sodium snacks, which he says are not very flavorful, although he's gotten used to them over time.  I immediately went to the Betty Crocker Healthy Heart cookbook, as I recalled that we'd researched and written about it.  If you have high blood pressure, or if it runs in your family, reducing the sodium in your diet by cutting down on salt may help. While our bodies only need about 500 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day to function, the average Amer...

Tags: Betty Crocker Healthy Heart Cookbook, DASH diet, low-sodium recipes, Lung and Blood Institute, National Heart

People often ask me about flaxseed meal.  They want to know the benefits, how to use it, how to grind it. The Betty Crocker Healthy Heart Cookbook has up-to-date, great information on flaxseed meal. I know because we really researched and worked with the heart-health experts at John Hopkins and the internal group of heart specialists and dietitians in the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition, to put the book together.  The cookbook also contains 10 great-tasting, flaxseed meal recipes, Oatmeal-Cranberry Muffins, Chewy Chocolate Oat Bars and more. Fun flax facts: ...

Tags: Betty Crocker Healthy Heart Cookbook, Chewy Chocolate Oat Bars, cholesterol, flaxseed meal, Flaxseed Morning Glory Muffins, triglycerides

So that General Mills employees can take part in heart-healthy foods and learn how to eat better, The Betty Crocker Kitchens has partnered with Sodexho, food service supplier who prepares and sells the items in the cafes at all 3 Minneapolis office locations.  In February, the cafes have been featuring heart-healthy menu items, using recipes from our healthy cookbooks.  Here are a few of the recipes they're offering, along with the cookbooks they're from: Breakfast – Chocolate Chip-Cherry Scones, Cookbook for ...

Tags: Fiber One bran cereal, Apple-Honey Cereal Bars, Betty Crocker 30-Minute Meals for Diabetes, Betty Crocker Cookbook, Betty Crocker Cookbook for Women, Betty Crocker Diabetes, Betty Crocker Healthy Heart Cookbook, Betty Crocker Whole Grains, Black Bean-Corn Wonton Cups, heart health, kids, teens

While our bodies only need about 500 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day, the average American consumes closer to 5000 mg/day.  While that's not a problem for most, some people who are "salt-sensitive", may find that their bodies just can't handle any excess salt.  It causes them to retain water, increasing their blood volume and placing additional strain on their hearts.  Since there's no easy way to tell if you are salt-sensitive, The American Heart Association recommends that we limit our intake of sodium to 2300 mgs/day, about the amount in one teaspoon of salt.  One great way to cut salt is to eat more fresh foods-preferably home-cooked-and sprinkle salt on ...

Tags: Pudding Cake, Betty Crocker Healthy Heart Cookbook, low-sodium, risk factors for heart disease