While Valentine’s Day and romantic affairs of the heart take center stage in February, the overall healthfulness of your heart can be determined in large measure by nutrition. So while a bouquet of flowers may take care of the romantic side of your life, The International Food Information Council (IFIC) is providing some nutrition information to coincide with American Heart Month. It turns out consumers are a bit unclear about the healthfulness of their heart.  In fact, a recent survey commissioned by the IFIC showed that about half of consumers (53 percent) mention their heart and circulatory conditions as a top health concern.  So what can consumers do to keep their concerns at bay?  In addition to physical activity, eating certain types of food can certainly contribute to a healthier heart and lifestyle.

Features on IFIC.org include the following Heart Health-related offerings: 

Whole Grain Goodness
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recognizes refined and whole grains as important sources of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates supply energy to the body in the form of glucose, which is the only energy source for red blood cells and the preferred energy source for the brain, central nervous system, and during pregnancy, the placenta and fetus. Grains contain carbohydrate primarily in the form of starches and some fiber.

Antioxidants Never Looked Better
Plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain many components that are beneficial to human health. Research supports that some of these foods, as part of an overall healthful diet, have the potential to delay the onset of many age-related diseases.

Are all fats created equal?
Research suggests that not all fats are created equal, particularly when it comes to heart health. In fact, various dietary fats or fatty acids can have different effects on blood lipids associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) such as HDL (“good”) cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and triglycerides. Trans fatty acids and high amounts of certain saturated fatty acids (SFA) in the diet tend to raise LDL cholesterol levels and increase CHD risk.

Plant Stanols and Sterols
Plant sterols and stanols are phytosterols—essential components of plant membranes—that resemble the chemical structure of animal cholesterol and carry out similar cellular functions in plants. Sterols are present naturally in small quantities in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes, vegetable oils, and other plant sources. Stanols occur in even smaller quantities in many of the same sources.

Soy
A lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, bone fractures, and menopausal symptoms is observed in many Asian countries compared to that found in the United States and other Western cultures. Differences in diet and, more specifically, soy consumption are presently being studied in an attempt to explain the variance in incidences of these chronic diseases and other health concerns. Soy protein has many clinically significant health benefits in humans.

Keep Kids Heart Healthy
Though you can't see it, your heart needs special attention to stay healthy. Whether your heart is healthy depends a lot on the way you eat and how much you move your body.

2007 IFIC Consumer Attitudes toward Functional Foods/Foods for Health
In 2007, the International Food Information Council (IFIC) commissioned its fifth survey to study Americans’ awareness and attitudes toward "functional foods" — foods and beverages that provide benefits beyond basic nutrition. Functional foods include a wide variety of foods and food components believed to improve overall health and well-being, reduce the risk of specific diseases, or minimize the effects of other health concerns.