FDA qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease

Great news for pistachio lovers everywhere! Now you can enjoy California pistachios as part of a heart-healthy diet. Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a much-awaited qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease prevention for immediate use on food labels in response to a petition filed by the International Tree Nut Council's Nutrition Research & Education Foundation.

The claim states, Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

This is fabulous news for pistachio fans, said Karen Reinecke, President of the California Pistachio Commission. We've always known pistachios are a terrific snack as part of a balanced diet. Now, enjoying a handful of pistachios is also considered a smart choice in practicing overall good heart health.

California pistachios contain predominantly monounsaturated fat, shown to lower both total and LDL bad cholesterol levels and heart disease risk. A handful or one-ounce serving of pistachios - that equates to 49 kernels according to the USDA - contains 13 grams of total fat with only 1.5 grams being saturated. Pistachios are also naturally cholesterol free. Many recent studies have shown new information on components called phytosterols found in nuts such as pistachios may also be involved with the reduction of heart disease risk.

In support of the new FDA health claim, the California Pistachio Commission is launching a new awareness campaign, Be Good To Your Heart - Living & Snacking the Heart-Healthy Way to help Americans focus on achieving a healthy diet and active lifestyle. The Commission plans to work closely with retailers throughout the country to promote the benefits of enjoying pistachios as part of a heart-healthy diet.

It is no secret that it is very important that we take good care of ourselves to enjoy a long and healthy life, added Reinecke. We know good nutrition and daily physical activity continue to play an important role in being good to your heart. Pistachios easily fit into the busy lifestyles of Americans, making being good to your heart even easier.

The California Pistachio Commission's consumer awareness campaign also highlights an important initiative that promotes heart health and prevention of heart disease among women. To encourage women to be more aware of the danger of heart disease, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and partner organizations recently launched a national campaign called The Heart Truth - a national awareness campaign about women and heart disease. The centerpiece of The Heart Truth is its Red Dress Project that launched the Red Dress Pin as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. The red dress symbolizes the fact that heart disease doesn't care what you wear, it's the #1 killer of women.

Heart disease is America's number one killer of both men and women, according to Susan K. Bennett, MD, a leading cardiologist specializing in women and heart disease and Clinical Director of the Women's Heart Program at George Washington University Hospital. Unfortunately, only about a third of females know that this devastating disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States.

About The Author:

Olivia Hansen is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-wellness.com. Obtaining and keeping good health through healthy living, natural healing, great mental health and healthy finances.

	Heart Disease Prevention
FDA qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease