This post is sponsored by Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. Personal opinions and thoughts are my own.
Did you know that February is National Heart Month? What better time to think about how your food
choices impact your heart health?!
Cholesterol is, of course, a key player in the heart health conversation. High cholesterol is a major risk
factor for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. It can be deceiving
because you can’t see or feel it like some other conditions, but it can have serious consequences.
Fortunately, it’s simple to make small changes in your diet that can support heart health. Need some
inspiration for heart-healthy meal planning? After you finish reading here, visit Take Cholesterol to
Heart to find everyday ways to manage high cholesterol, including smart substitutions for cooking.
Because cardiac disease runs in my family, I have started to pay more attention to the foods I eat and
become more intentional about making time for exercise.
My father, unfortunately, passed away due to heart complications, and since heart disease runs in our
family, it’s become even more apparent that I need to teach my two children the importance of making
heart-healthy choices. Along with regular exercise, diet is a critical part of maintaining healthy
cholesterol levels. It’s not that time consuming to grab a piece of fruit on your way out to work, or sub
broccoli for a butter and cheese-laden side dish. Instead of frying your food, experiment with boiling,
grilling, roasting, or poaching.
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Diet considerations and lifestyle changes may help, but if you’re still not able to get your cholesterol
under control, your doctor may also prescribe a statin medication. And, if you’re currently being treated
for high cholesterol, you might want to double check with your doctor to make sure the statin you’re
taking is the one that’s most appropriate for you.
I’ve created these Nicoise Tacos to show you how easy it is to eat heart-healthy. In this recipe, I’ve used
white beans in place of the hardboiled egg typically seen in a nicoise dish. The dish also includes tuna,
a lean source of protein. The olives and olive oil in the vinaigrette are both a source of healthy fats. I typically
serve this dish with guacamole, which is another heart-healthy snack.
Here’s your video tutorial!
Here’s your taco printable ==>
Ingredients
- 4 flour tortillas, soft taco size
- 2 cans albacore tuna in water, drained and flaked
- 1 can white Northern beans (or your favorite beans)
- 1 can artichoke hearts in water, roughly chopped
- 1 ripe tomato, diced
- 1 cup olives, chopped (I use black, but any olive will do)
- 1 handful red leaf lettuce, roughly chopped
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Add the dressing ingredients to a mason jar or dressing container, cover and shake.
- Prep a grill pan with nonstick spray over medium heat.
- Brown tortillas on each side and remove from heat.
- Assemble tacos by adding tuna, beans, artichokes, tomato, olives and lettuce to tortillas.
- Drizzle tacos with dressing and serve.
Find additional resources at Take Cholesterol to Heart.
This post is sponsored by Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. and should not be construed to constitute medical advice. Personal opinions and thoughts are my own. I am not a medical professional and am not qualified to give medical advice. Please talk with your doctor about your individual medical situation.
