Celebrate World Heart Day With Workplace Wellness

Brown Bag it with Healthy Recipes Made with Canola Oil

CHICAGO, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Put your heart into work this fall
- as in protect your heart at work - in honor of World Heart Day* Sept. 27,
which is celebrating workplace wellness this year. Heart disease is the number
one cause of death globally. By 2015, almost 20 million people will die from
cardiovascular diseases, mainly from heart disease and stroke, estimates the
World Health Organization. The good news is that these diseases are largely
preventable through a healthy diet, physical activity and other wise lifestyle
choices. Here are a few easy, heart-smart tips for year-round workplace
wellness:

1. PACK IT UP. Packing a lunch, instead of eating out, allows you to
control
calories, fat and money, while incorporating healthy ingredients that
are
low in saturated and trans fats and cholesterol. Such ingredients
include
canola oil** and canola mayonnaise.
2. STEP AWAY FROM THE DESK. No matter how busy your day, head outside for
lunch or take a short break in the kitchen or cafeteria. You'll be
more satisfied and recharged after paying attention to your food
instead
of your e-mail. Plus, your work area will stay cleaner.
3. PLAN AHEAD FOR LEFTOVERS. Prepare larger healthy meals for dinner to
have
leftovers for work. Not only will this spice up the brown bag, but you
will be fueled for productivity. Leftovers can be stretched out for two
or three days as well.
4. GET MOVING. Save time at lunch for a walk and make a habit out of
taking
the stairs, getting off the bus a few blocks earlier or parking your
car
farther away when commuting to the office.
5. TEAM UP. Partner with a co-worker to commit to a nutrition and fitness
plan. For example, a 2008 American Heart Association (AHA) survey
revealed that adult Americans are 76 percent more likely to walk if
someone else is counting on them.
6. BREAK FOR WATER, NOT COFFEE. The human body loses about 10 cups of
water
during daily activity, so it's important to replenish. The AHA
recommends drinking six to eight glasses of water per day to stay
hydrated.

7. LAUGH FOR LIFE. Minimizing stress is important for wellness and
laughter
is the best medicine. Crack jokes with your co-workers - whatever it
takes to ease deadlines.

"Most people spend about 60 percent of their waking hours at work, so healthy
choices in the workplace are critical for overall wellness," says Hope
Barkoukis, Ph.D., R.D., L.D., associate professor of nutrition in the School
of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. "A diet low in saturated fat
and rich in fruits and vegetables combined with regular physical activity can
lower the risk of heart disease. So choose your foods and fats like you choose
your friends - think quality, not just quantity."

Obtain five easy, nutritious and delicious lunch recipes made with canola oil
at www.canolainfo.org. These workplace wellness recipes include a romaine
salad with homemade blue cheese vinaigrette, vegetarian pasta salad, chicken
wrap and lunchbox granola bars. For high-resolution photos and/or an interview
with Dr. Barkoukis, e-mail maura@canolainfo.org.

* World Heart Day is a trademark of the World Heart Federation
(www.worldheart.org).

** Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 1
tablespoons (19 grams) of canola oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary
heart disease due to the unsaturated fat content in canola oil. To achieve
this possible benefit, canola oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated
fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day. - U.S.
Food and Drug Administration qualified health claim

CanolaInfo is the information source for consumers, health professionals,
chefs, media and educators - everyone who wants to know more about canola oil,
the world's healthiest oil. The CanolaInfo team is supported by North
America's canola growers, crop input suppliers, exporters, processors, food
manufacturers and governments.

www.canolainfo.org

SOURCE CanolaInfo

Angela Dansby of CanolaInfo, +1-773-697-7686, angela@canolainfo.org, or
CanolaInfo, 1-888-479-0853, fyi@canolainfo.org