PARAMUS, N.J., Feb. 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- February is the time to put a little love in your heart—and we're not just talking about Valentine's Day. In honor of American Heart Month, the Smart Balance website is offering free Valentine's Day e-cards along with a $3 coupon and hundreds of heart-healthier recipes, articles, frequently asked questions and tips for supporting a healthy heart.
The site, which will feature a special "For Your Heart" section throughout the month of February, combines an online community with a wealth of important information on supporting your heart, including:
- Heart-healthier recipes for users to search, review, bookmark and submit;
- Articles and tips on supporting heart and improving overall health;
- A 14-day customizable food plan; and
- Areas where users can offer feedback and engage in dialogue.
Anyone can spread the love this month by sending one of 14 free, personalized Valentine's Day e-cards fit for a number of relationships, including family, friends, co-workers, significant others and more. Users who send three e-cards can save $3 on Smart Balance products.
"We see American Heart Month as an opportunity to bring heart health to the forefront," said John Becker, vice president of marketing for Smart Balance. "We want to encourage individuals to take control of their heart health and embrace simple steps toward living a healthier lifestyle for February and beyond, without sacrificing taste."
Articles featured in the new resource range from "Outsmarting your family history" to "10 superfoods for heart health." Highlighted heart month recipes are well-suited for Valentine's Day, including chocolate dessert crepes with raspberries and chocolate chip banana muffins.
Heart-healthier diets limit the consumption of trans-fats and dietary cholesterol in favor of essential omega-3 fatty acids and other polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Fat can be a part of a healthy diet, as long as the fats are the right ones and are consumed in the right proportions. Heart healthy diets should limit total fat to 30 percent of calories and saturated fat to 10 percent of calories while avoiding trans fats and keeping cholesterol to 300mg per day. Exercise is also essential.
Smart Balance products contain 0g trans fats naturally, and are free of any hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. The Smart Balance Food Plan offers numerous options for incorporating Smart Balance products into a heart healthy diet. Select Smart Balance products also include plant sterols, which help to block the absorption of dietary cholesterol in the body, and omega-3 fatty acids, which help support cardiovascular health and provide nutritional support.
To view the Smart Balance heart health resource, visit www.smartbalance.com.
About Smart Balance, Inc.
Smart Balance, Inc. (Nasdaq:SMBL) is committed to providing superior tasting, solution-driven products in every category it enters. The company's health and wellness platform consists of four trusted brands, each targeting a specific consumer need: Smart Balance for heart-healthier diets; Glutino for gluten-free diets; Earth Balance for plant-based diets; and Bestlife for weight management. The company markets the Smart Balance line of products, which include Smart Balance® Buttery Spreads, Enhanced Milks, Buttery Sticks, Peanut Butters, Microwave Popcorn, Cooking Oils, Light Mayonnaise Dressings and Non-Stick Cooking Spray. The company markets Glutino products, a trusted pioneer and leader in the gluten-free category, with a wide variety of great-tasting gluten-free foods consumers can trust across a number of product categories, including Glutino® Gluten-Free Pretzels, Pizzas and Bread. The company markets the Earth Balance line of non-GMO, plant-based products, which include Earth Balance® Buttery Spreads, Nut Butters, Soy Milks, Vegan Mayo Dressings and Sandwich Spreads and Organic Coconut Spread. The company also markets weight management products, including Buttery Spreads and Sticks, under the Bestlife™ brand.
For more information about Smart Balance, Inc., please visit www.smartbalance.com.