Resurrection Time

Hello, hello! Way back before I had much of any idea of what I was doing online, I started this blog as an experiment in residual income. While I had a small level of success, I didn't really stick with it long enough for it to go anywhere. I was tired of paying for advertising, and I knew nothing of SEO practices at that time.

Now that I've been in SEO content and copywriting for a while, and have gained a MUCH better understanding of how the Web works, I thought it might be worthwhile to resurrect this blog. It wasn't a half-bad idea, after all. It will also compliment some of the material on my personal blog, My Coke Addiction.

I've done some redesign, and there may be more to come as I refine the look and feel. I haven't decided on a publishing schedule yet, but I do plan to have a mix of recipes, heart health information, and other relevant topics for your heart-related reading pleasure. So be sure to check back every now and then, or subscribe so that you'll know when new information goes up. Here's to your heart!

Increase Your Heart Smarts With These Helpful Resources

There is a wealth of heart-smart information out there for the taking. Use the following links and resources to get you on the road to heart-smart living. Enjoy!

Healthy Heart Guide

Heart-Healthy Living

Food Network Healthy Eating

The Mayo Clinic Healthy Recipes

The American Heart Association

Fantastic Fish for a Happy Heart

Have you heard of the incredible benefits of Omega-3 fats? No? Well, it's just about time you did!

Omega-3 fats have been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. In addition, there is evidence that these fats have some anti-cancer properties, can improve memory function, strengthen the immune system, and benefit rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

So how can you reap the benefits of these wonderful fats? 

Well, you could take fish oil supplements which are readily available in capsule form. Supplements are an excellent way to get this heart-healthy fat if fish just isn't your thing, or if you can't eat fish often. If you do like fish, however, here is something that I threw together one day and was pleasantly surprised with the end result:

Simple, Easy, and Quick Baked Salmon

3-4 salmon fillets
garlic powder
onion powder
fresh lemon slices

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray or line with foil. Arrange fillets on cookie sheet and sprinkle with garlic and onion powders. Rub powders into fish, flip and repeat on other side. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20-30 minutes until flaky but still moist. Squeeze lemon juice over fish just before serving.

Beneficial Blueberries

Looking for a healthy, heart smart snack? Reach for a nice fresh bowl of blueberries! The benefits of this little fruit are amazing.

Studies have shown blueberries to have the most antioxidant powers of all other fruits and veggies. That means it helps you age gracefully with more mental power, as well as helping to keep you healthy all around.



Some other benefits of blueberries include:

• improved memory 
• better vision 
• weight loss aid 
• immune system support 
• promotes good urinary tract health 
• reduces cholesterol 
• reduces your risk for heart disease. 

That's a ton of goodness packed in those tiny little balls!

So the next time you're craving something sweet to snack on, consider the humble blueberry over that brownie. There's nothing more convenient. Just pop them in your mouth and chew. No excuses about healthy snacks being to much of a hassle to prepare!

No Fuss Easy Beef Stew

Yummy, Heart-Smart Beef Stew

Ingredients:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 pounds lean boneless round steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 cups water
2 medium potatoes, scrubbed and cut into bite-size pieces
9-ounce package frozen no-salt-added whole baby carrots
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup frozen no-salt-added pearl onions
4 teaspoons low-sodium beef bouillon granules
1 teaspoon dried savory or thyme, crushed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

In the Oven:

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large plastic bag with a tight-fitting seal, combine flour and pepper. Add meat and shake until well coated. Shake off excess flour. In an ovenproof Dutch oven, combine coated meat and remaining ingredients. Cover and bake for 2 hours or until meat is tender, stirring once or twice.

In the Crockpot:

Prepare beef cubes as directed above. Combine coated meat and remaining ingredients in a 3 1/2- to 4-quart electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours or on low for 9 to 11 hours or until meat is tender.

This recipe is recommended by the American Heart Association and is just one example of how you can still enjoy a nice hearty meal while still being good to your heart. How easy is this? Throw the ingredients together and set your slow cooker before leaving for work. Come home to a savory smelling house with dinner waiting on you for a change! Of course you can always use fresh veggies rather than frozen if you prefer, just don't add salt or butter to them.

Cooking Heart-Smart Meals

So we all know how important it is to take care of our heart, right? I mean, the doctors tell you to, the fitness gurus tell you to, the billboard signs and even the magazines you read tell you to. In fact, I would say it would be near impossible for anyone not living 50 miles away from civilization to have not heard how important heart health is. So why aren't we taking care of our hearts?

We all have our reasons and excuses. We work long hours or are too busy otherwise to exercise and cook healthy meals. So we count the walking from office to office at work as our exercise and grab a "healthy" sub sandwich on the way home and call ourselves health saavy. We know we're just fooling ourselves but we go on like this anyway. And while you'll have to rely on another's expertise for fitting in workouts, the cooking I can help you with.

Almost any fitness expert you talk to will tell you that diet is every bit as important as exercise, if not more so. Eating heart healthy meals will bring you benefits other than just a healthy heart. Those 5 pounds you've been trying to lose for 10 years are likely to come right off. And even if that doesn't happen (unlikely), you will feel better overall. I'll just bet you have more energy to do the things you enjoy, and you may even find that you do have the time for things you used to think you didn't simply because you are better rested! And who doesn't want that?

Heart smart meals don't have to be boring, bland, or overly complicated. There are so many recipes out there that there are sure to be many you find pleasing to the pallate. The resources for these recipes are abundant. Find cookbooks online at places like amazon.com or barnesandnobles.com. Ebay is sure to have some great deals. Check with your local library...that's where I started and there was a ton of info all for free! 

Websites that are geared toward weight loss will often have very good recipes. And of course, the American Heart Association will be happy to get you started. There is a wealth of good information and advice out there that will fit every lifestyle, budget, and personality. So go ahead and do this for yourself. Your heart will thank you!