Shoppers are getting heart-smart thanks to educational efforts
focused on heart-healthy foods Heart disease remains the No. 1
killer of both men and women in the U.S., with 80 million
Americans afflicted with one or more types of cardiovascular
disease. The statistics are sobering, but Americans at risk are
by no means helpless when it comes to improving their chances
for survival. That's because the keys to better health are no
farther than the local grocery store. Experts agree that food
and diet play a major roll in managing or reducing risk for
heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and lowering blood pressure
and cholesterol. The American Heart Association is so confident
in the ability of food to minimize heart-related death, it's
partnered with supermarkets to help steer shoppers toward heart-
healthy food choices. As part of a pilot coinciding with
Cholesterol Awareness Month in September, the Washington-based
AHA joined forces with more than 2,000 stores to gauge awareness
and test the impact on sales o