Heart Health & Blood Pressure Awareness

    By: Jacqueline Gomes, RD, MBA  

    May is Blood pressure awareness month and a good time to talk about a healthy lifestyle.

    High blood pressure affects people of all ages, races and genders. It is an epidemic that claims one life every 40 seconds. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in this nation. Stroke is known as the silent killer as there are no symptoms to high blood pressure, you simply must get checked regularly to know your numbers.

    • Visit your physician regularly to get your blood pressure checked.
    • Get your blood work taken annually. Lab work gives an accurate measure of your cholesterol and triglyceride levels for heart health.
    • Follow a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise, a heart healthy diet that includes monounsaturated fats like Filippo Berio Olive oil, maintain a healthy weight and quit smoking if you smoke.
    • And don’t forget to watch your sodium intake carefully. Season your food with fresh herbs and spices instead of salt.

    A great way to get in some heart healthy fats and heart healthy fiber are these tasty Apple Pie Oatmeal Muffins.

     

    Apple Pie Oatmeal Muffins

    apple pie oatmeal muffins

    Prep: 15 minutes

    Bake: 25 minutes

    Makes: 24 Muffins

     

    Ingredients:

    • 2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
    • 2 cups buttermilk
    • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup Filippo Berio® Delicato Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
    • 1 large Cortland apple, grated
    • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
    • 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
    • 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
    • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
    • 1/2 tsp salt

     

    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
    2. Place oats in large bowl; pour buttermilk over top. Stir together; let stand for 30 minutes.
    3. Stir in sugar, olive oil, egg and apple.
    4. Sift together whole wheat and all-purpose flours, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; add to oats mixture.
    5. Spray nonstick muffin pans with olive oil and fill each muffin cup with 1/2 cup of the batter.
    6. Bake for 25 minutes or until set and springy to the touch. Serve warm.

     

    Nutrition Information for 1 muffin: 119 Calories; 15g Carbohydrate; 6g Fat (1g Saturated, 1g poly, 4g monounsaturated); 3g Protein; 63mg Sodium; 1g Fiber

    Recipe by: Filippo Berio®  Olive Oil

    Photo by: Jacqueline Gomes, RDN