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SOUL FOOD GETS A HEART-HEALTHY MAKEOVER IN TIME FOR
AMERICAN HEART MONTH AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH
- Mazola and the American Heart Association Showcase Heart-Healthy Variations
on Traditional Soul Food Favorites -
(February, 2003 - Memphis, Tenn.) With February being both American Heart Month
and Black History Month, it is the perfect time to take a look at traditional
soul food favorites and consider a heart-healthy makeover on some of these dishes.
According to a study conducted by the AHA, despite recent declines in coronary
heart disease (CHD) death rates, a disparity between African Americans and whites
has increased, partly due to heredity and lifestyle habits. African Americans
have a high incidence of certain risk factors, such as high blood pressure,
putting them at increased risk for heart disease and stroke which makes outreach
and education a top priority. In an effort to promote a heart-healthy lifestyle,
Mazola has partnered with the American Heart Association's Search Your Heart
program to provide heart-healthy soul food recipes and cuisine tips including
ways to reduce saturated fat and calories every day.
Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for
African American men and women - claiming the lives of over 100,000 annually.
In 1999, cardiovascular disease accounted for 33.8 percent of deaths among African
Americans men and 40.8 percent among African American women, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These statistics are shocking, but
can be reversed by taking action to eliminate all modifiable risk factors which
includes adhering to a heart-healthy diet. By selecting a healthy eating plan
that includes unsaturated fats, such as Mazola cooking oils, consumers can help
reduce the risk of heart disease without losing great taste.
Healthy food habits can help reduce three risk factors for heart attack and
stroke - high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess body weight.
"I encourage consumers not to give up on the foods they love, but to instead
find ways to make them healthier," said Dr. Ro, America's most renowned African
American nutritionist and author of Dr. Ro's Ten Secrets to Livin' Healthy.
"By switching to healthier cooking oils that are high in unsaturated fats, consumers
can make great strides toward healthier living."
Sylvia Woods, better known as the "Queen of Soul Food" and owner of Sylvia's
Restaurant of Harlem, is also doing her part in helping to educate the African
American community on the importance of a heart-healthy diet. Over the last
two years, Sylvia has made over some of her Soul Food family favorites that
are prepared and served in her restaurant. "With a healthy eating plan, you
can enjoy the foods that you love, by simply changing how you prepare them,"
said Sylvia. "I decided to makeover some of my favorite soul food recipes that
I serve at my restaurant to promote heart-healthy eating habits within the African
American community."
Following are a few tips from Sylvia on how you can give Soul Food a heart-healthy
makeover:
" When preparing collard greens, substitute turkey neck for pork when flavoring
the dish.
Consumers can find these versatile, heart-healthy Soul Food recipes and others
at www.mazola.com.
"Our research has shown great confusion among consumers about dietary fats and
our goal with this relationship with the American Heart Association is to help
educate consumers on the role that unsaturated fats play in a healthy, balanced
diet," said Carolyn Wise, marketing vice president, Mazola/ACH Food Companies,
Inc. "Mazola cooking oils are 100 % and naturally cholesterol free as well as
versatile cooking ingredients that provide a light delicate flavor to heart-healthy
soul food cuisine."
About The American Heart Association's Search
Your Heart Program
The American Heart Association's "Search Your Heart" program was created to
address the disparity between the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
and stroke among African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos. This is a free heart-health
and stroke prevention initiative that helps faith-based organizations reach
African American and Hispanics/Latinos. This year, "Search Your Heart" programs
will take place in several markets across the country. For additional information
call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.americanheart.org.
About Mazola
For 94 years, Mazola has provided home chefs with a versatile cooking ingredient
that is easy to use and 100 pure and naturally cholesterol free, bringing great
taste to healthy living. Mazola products are available at most leading grocery
stores. The Mazola family of products also include new Mazola Vegetable Oil,
Mazola Corn Oil, Mazola Canola Oil, Mazola Right Blend and new Mazola No Stick
Cooking Spray. For more information, contact 1.866.4MAZOLA or visit www.mazola.com.
ACH Food Companies is one of the leading manufacturers of food ingredients and
store-branded products in the United States. ACH manufactures and markets food
products to be used as ingredients for the foodservice, retail private label,
and branded food channels. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, ACH Food Companies,
Inc. is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods, PLC, a multi-national business
focused on agriculture, ingredients, oils, grocery, retail and packaging.
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