• In 2008, an estimated 770,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack.


• 430,000 Americans will have a recurrent attack.


• Every 34 seconds a person in the United States dies from heart disease.


• More than 2,510 Americans die from heart disease each day.


• Every 20 seconds, a person in the United States has a heart attack.


• At least 250,000 people die of heart attacks each year before they reach a hospital.


• Studies show that under-educated people are more likely to suffer heart attacks.


• The countries with the highest death rates from heart disease are the Soviet Union, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. The countries with the lowest are Japan, France, Spain, Switzerland, and Canada.


• Almost 6 million hospitalizations each year (in the United States) are due to cardiovascular disease.


• Since 1900, Cardio Vascular Disease has been the number 1 killer in the United States for every year but 1918.


• Every 33 seconds, a person dies from Cardio Vascular Disease in the United States.


• Men suffer heart attacks about 10 years earlier in life than women do.


• Of the people we have surveyed, 75% live with heart disease and/or high blood pressure.


• Among adults in the United States age 20 and older, the estimated age-adjusted prevalence of coronary heart disease for:
• non-Hispanic whites is 9.4 percent for men and 6.0 percent for women
• non-Hispanic blacks, 7.1 percent for men and 7.8 percent for women
• for Mexican-Americans, 5.6 percent for men and 5.3 percent for women.

This Valentine's Day, millions of people will exchange heart-shaped gifts of all kinds, from candy to cards. But did you know that the human heart does not actually look like the typical valentine shape?

According to heart specialist Dr. Robert DiBianco, the human heart is about the size of a fist.

"Because [the heart] is a muscle with lots of blood supplied to it, it looks red like meat," he explained. "In people who are overweight, the heart looks yellow because it is covered with yellow fat."

In the United States, children are taught to place their hands over their hearts when pledging allegiance to the flag. Most people have heard that the heart is on the left side of the chest. In reality, the heart is in the middle of the chest, tucked snugly between the two lungs. But what does the heart actually do?

DiBianco explains that the heart is a pump that pushes blood throughout the body. The heart moves blood by expanding and contracting (getting bigger and smaller).

"Each living part of the body needs blood to live, and that's why it's important for the blood to go to different parts of the body," DiBianco says.

When you're exercising, it takes your blood about ten seconds to get from your heart to your big toe and back. All that pumping takes a lot of effort. To push blood, an average heart beats a hundred thousand times a day. That means that in a lifetime, the average human heart will beat more than two and a half billion times.

Because the heart is so important, the American Heart Association reminds people that they need to treat their hearts with care. Exercise and healthful foods can dramatically help the heart do its job.

When you think of heart disease, usually people think of coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart), but coronary artery disease is just one type of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease includes a number of conditions affecting the structures or function of the heart. They can include:

• Coronary artery disease (including heart attack)
• Abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmia
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
• Pericardial disease
• Aorta disease and Marfan syndrome
• Vascular disease (blood vessel disease)

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. It is important to learn about your heart to help prevent heart disease. And, if you have cardiovascular disease, you can live a healthier, more active life by learning about your disease and treatments and by becoming an active participant in your care.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is arteriosclerosis, or hardening, of the arteries that provide vital oxygen and nutrients to the heart.

Abnormal Heart Rhythms

The heart is an amazing organ. It beats in a steady, even rhythm, about 60 to 100 times each minute (that's about 100,000 times each day!). But, sometimes your heart gets out of rhythm. An irregular or abnormal heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia (also called a dysrhythmia) can involve a change in the rhythm, producing an uneven heartbeat, or a change in the rate, causing a very slow or very fast heartbeat.

Heart Failure

The term "heart failure" can be frightening. It does not mean the heart has "failed" or stopped working. It means the heart does not pump as well as it should.

Heart failure is a major health problem in the U.S., affecting nearly 5 million Americans. About 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65.

Heart Valve Disease

Your heart valves lie at the exit of each of your four heart chambers and maintain one-way blood-flow through your heart.

Examples include:

• mitral valve prolapse
• aortic stenosis
• mitral valve insufficiency

Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease is a type of defect in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occurs before birth.

It affects about 8 out of every 1,000 children. Congenital heart defects may produce symptoms at birth, during childhood and sometimes not until adulthood.

In most cases scientists don't know why they occur. Heredity may play a role as well as exposure to the fetus during pregnancy to certain viral infections, alcohol, or drugs.

Cardiomyopathies

Cardiomyopathies are diseases of the heart muscle itself. People with cardiomyopathies - sometimes called an enlarged heart - have hearts that are abnormally enlarged, thickened, and/or stiffened. As a result, the heart's ability to pump blood is weakened. Without treatment, cardiomyopathies worsen over time and often lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is inflammation of the lining that surrounds the heart. It is a rare condition often caused by an infection.

Aorta Disease and Marfan Syndrome

The aorta is the large artery that leaves the heart and provides oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. These diseases and conditions can cause the aorta to dilate (widen) or dissect (tear), increasing the risk for future life-threatening events, such as:

• Injury
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Genetic conditions such as Marfan Syndrome
• Connective tissue disorders (that affect the strength of the blood vessel walls) such as, scleroderma, osteogenesis imperfecta, polycystic kidney disease, and Turner's syndrome

People with aorta disease should be treated by an experienced team of cardiovascular specialists and surgeons.

Other Vascular Diseases

Your circulatory system is the system of blood vessels that carry blood to every part of your body. Vascular disease includes any condition that affects your circulatory system. These include diseases of the arteries and blood flow to the brain.

Here are some ways you can reduce your risk of heart disease.

• Quit smoking. Smokers have more than twice the risk for heart attack as nonsmokers and are much more likely to die if they suffer a heart attack. If you smoke, quit. Better yet, never start smoking at all.


• Improve cholesterol levels. The risk for heart disease increases as your total amount of cholesterol increases. A total cholesterol level over 200, a HDL, or "good" cholesterol level under 40, or a LDL, or "bad" cholesterol level over 160 indicates an increased risk for heart disease. Of course, interpretation of cholesterol values must be individualized, taking into account all of your risk factors for heart disease. A diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat will lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk for heart disease.


• Control high blood pressure. Over 50 million people in the U.S. have hypertension, or high blood pressure, making it the most common heart disease risk factor. One in four adults has systolic blood pressure (the upper number) over 140, and/or diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) over 90, which is the definition of hypertension. Like cholesterol, blood pressure interpretation should be individualized, taking into account your entire risk profile. If treatment is warranted, today's blood pressure medications are effective, safe, and easy to take.


• Get active. Many of us lead sedentary lives, exercising infrequently or not at all. People who don't exercise have higher rates of death and heart disease compared to people who perform even mild to moderate amounts of physical activity. Even leisure-time activities like gardening or walking can lower your risk of heart disease.


• Eat right. Eat a heart-healthy diet low in fat and cholesterol. Try to increase the amounts of vitamins you eat, especially antioxidants, which have been proven to lower your risk for heart disease.


• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts significant strain on your heart and worsens several other heart disease risk factors such as diabetes. Researchers now know that obesity itself increases heart disease risk. By eating right and exercising, you can lose weight and reduce your risk of heart disease.


• Manage stress and anger. Poorly controlled stress and anger can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Use stress and anger management techniques to lower your risk.


• Control diabetes. If not properly controlled, diabetes can lead to significant heart damage including heart attacks and death.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called a "silent disease" because you usually don't know that you have it. There may be no symptoms or signs. Nonetheless, it damages the body and eventually may cause problems like heart disease.

Therefore, it's important to regularly monitor your blood pressure, especially if it has ever been high or above the "normal" range, or if you have a family history of hypertension. Because hypertension can cause heart disease, you may also need to be tested for heart disease.

Measuring Blood Pressure

You can get your blood pressure measured by a health care provider, at a pharmacy or you can purchase a blood pressure monitor for your home.

Blood pressure is most often measured with a device known as a sphygmomanometer, which consists of a stethoscope, arm cuff, dial, pump, and valve.

Blood pressure is measured in two ways: systolic and diastolic.

• Systolic blood pressure is the pressure during a heartbeat
• Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure between heartbeats

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and is written systolic over diastolic (for example, 120/80 mm Hg, or "120 over 80"). According to the most recent guidelines, a normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. Prehypertension consists of blood pressure that is 120-139/80-89. Blood pressure that is 140/90 or greater is high blood pressure, or hypertension.

Blood pressure may increase or decrease, depending on your age, heart condition, emotions, activity, and the medications you take. One high reading does not mean you have the diagnosis of high blood pressure. It is necessary to measure your blood pressure at different times while resting comfortably for at least five minutes to find out your typical value.

In addition to measuring your blood pressure, your doctor will ask about your medical history (whether you've had heart problems before), assess your risk factors (whether you smoke, have high cholesterol, diabetes etc.), and talk about your family history (whether any members of your family have had high blood pressure or heart disease).

Your doctor will also conduct a physical examination. As part of this examination, he or she may use a stethoscope to listen to your heart for any abnormal sounds and your arteries for a bruit, a whooshing or swishing sound that may indicate that the artery may be partially blocked. Your doctor may also check the pulses in your arm and ankle to determine if they are weak or even absent.

If heart disease is suspected, your doctor may recommend other tests, such as:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): A test that measures the electrical activity, rate, and rhythm of your heartbeat via electrodes attached to your arms, legs, and chest. The results are recorded on graph paper.


• Echocardiogram: This is a test that uses ultrasound waves to provide pictures of the heart's valves and chambers so the pumping action of the heart can be studied and measurement of the chambers and wall thickness of the heart can be made.


• Cardiac stress test: During this test you may exercise on a stationary bicycle or treadmill to increase your heart rate while EKG readings are taken. A stress test can also be combined with an echocardiogram or nuclear medicine X-ray to get additional information.


• Cardiac catheterization: A catheter, a small flexible tube, is inserted into the femoral artery in your groin or one of the arteries in your arm and guided to the coronary arteries. Your doctor can locate any blockages in the arteries and can also observe pressure and blood flow in the heart.


• Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves are used to look for blockages in blood vessels in the neck (carotid arteries) or other parts of your body.

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a major risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and heart failure.

You can prevent high blood pressure by:

• Maintaining a healthy weight. Lose weight if you are overweight
• Exercising more
• Eating foods low in salt
• Eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables
• Drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation, if you drink at all

These changes are also recommended for treating high blood pressure, although medicine is often added as part of the treatment

How Is Blood Pressure Related to Weight?

As your body weight increases, your blood pressure rises. In fact, being overweight can make you more likely to develop high blood pressure than if you are at your desirable weight. More than 60% of adults in the United States are overweight. You can reduce your risk of high blood pressure by losing weight. Even small amounts of weight loss can make a big difference in helping to prevent and treat high blood pressure.

How Can I Lose Weight?

To lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories than you burn. But don't go on a crash diet to see how quickly you can lose those pounds. The healthiest and longest-lasting weight loss happens when you do it slowly, losing 1/2 to 1 pound a week. By cutting back by 510 calories/day, by eating less and being more physically active, you can lose about one pound in a week.

Here are some tips to help you lose weight and get on the road to healthy eating:

• Choose foods low in calories and fat. Naturally, choosing low-calorie foods cuts calories. But did you know that choosing foods low in fat also cuts calories? Fat is a concentrated source of calories, so eating fewer fatty foods will reduce calorie intake. Some examples of fatty foods to cut down on are: butter, margarine, regular salad dressings, fatty meats, skin of poultry, fried foods, whole-milk dairy foods like cheese, cookies, cakes, and snacks.


• Choose foods high in starch and fiber. Foods high in starch and fiber, like fruits, vegetables, dry peas and beans, as well as whole-grain cereals, pasta, rice and breads, are excellent substitutes for high fat foods. They are lower in calories than foods high in fat and are also good sources of vitamins and minerals.


• Limit serving size. To lose weight, it's not just the type of foods you eat that's important, but also the amount. To take in fewer calories, you need to limit your portion sizes. Try especially to take smaller helpings of high calorie foods like high fat meats and cheeses. And try not to go back for seconds.


• Keep a food diary. Keep track of what you eat, when you eat and why, by writing it down. Note whether you snack on high fat foods in front of the television, or if you skip breakfast and then eat a large lunch. Once you see your habits, you can set goals for yourself.


• Exercise. Another important ingredient to losing weight is increasing physical activity. Cutting down on fat and calories combined with regular physical activity can help you lose more weight and keep it off longer than only eating less or only exercising. Exercise can also lower blood pressure. People who are physically active have a lower risk of getting high blood pressure than people who are not active. You don't have to be a marathon runner to benefit from physical activity. Even light activities, if done daily, can help lower your risk of heart disease. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or park farther away from the entrance so that you have to walk farther.

How Can I Reduce My Intake of Salt?

Americans eat more salt and other forms of sodium than they need. Often, when people with high blood pressure cut back on salt, their blood pressure falls. Cutting back on salt also prevents blood pressure from rising. Some people, like blacks and the elderly, are more affected by sodium than others. Since there's really no practical way to predict exactly who will be affected by sodium, it makes sense for everyone to limit intake of salt to help prevent high blood pressure.

All Americans, especially people with high blood pressure, should eat no more than about 6 grams of salt a day, which equals about 2,400 milligrams of sodium. That's about 1 teaspoon of table salt. But remember to keep track of ALL salt eaten - including that in processed foods and salt added during cooking or at the table.

You can teach your taste buds to enjoy less salty foods. Here are a few tips:

• Check food labels for the amount of sodium in foods. Choose those lower in sodium most of the time. Look for products that say "sodium free," "very low sodium," "low sodium," "light in sodium," "reduced or less sodium" or "unsalted," especially on cans, boxes, bottles, and bags.


• Buy foods that are fresh, plain frozen, or canned with "no salt added." Use fresh poultry, fish and lean meat, rather than canned or processed types.


• Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasoning blends in cooking instead of salt.


• Cook rice, pasta and hot cereals without salt. Cut back on instant or flavored rice, pasta and cereal mixes because they usually have added salt.


• Rinse canned foods like tuna to remove some sodium.

A research study called the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) showed that you can reduce your blood pressure by eating foods rich in grains, fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products.

How Much Alcohol Can I Drink if I Have High Blood Pressure?

Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure. It may also lead to the development of high blood pressure. So to help prevent high blood pressure, if you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink to no more than two drinks a day. The "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" recommend that for overall health, women and lighter weight persons should limit their alcohol to no more than one drink a day.

This is what counts as a drink:

• 1 1/2 ounces of 80-proof or 1 ounce of 100-proof whiskey
• 5 ounces of wine
• 12 ounces of beer (regular or light)

You may have heard that some alcohol is good for your heart. Some news reports suggest that people who consume a drink or two a day have lower blood pressure and live longer than those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Others note that wine raises the "good" (HDL) blood cholesterol that prevents the build-up of fats in the arteries.

While these news stories may be correct they don't tell the whole story: too much alcohol contributes to a host of other health problems, such as motor vehicle accidents, diseases of the liver and pancreas, damage to the brain and heart, an increased risk of many cancers, and fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol is also high in calories. So you should limit how much you drink.

Should I Take Dietary Supplements?

Other things, like dietary supplements, may also help prevent high blood pressure. Here's a roundup of what's being said about them.

Potassium. Eating foods rich in potassium will help protect some people from developing high blood pressure. You probably can get enough potassium from your diet, so a supplement isn't necessary. Many fruits, vegetables, dairy foods and fish are good sources of potassium.

Calcium. Populations with low calcium intakes have high rates of high blood pressure. However, it has not been proven that taking calcium tablets will prevent high blood pressure. But it is important to be sure to get at least the recommended amount of calcium, 800 - 1,200 milligrams per day for adults (pregnant and breastfeeding women need more), from the foods you eat. Dairy foods like low-fat selections of milk, yogurt and cheese are good sources of calcium. Low-fat and nonfat dairy products have even more calcium than the high-fat types.

Magnesium. A diet low in magnesium may make your blood pressure rise. But doctors don't recommend taking extra magnesium to help prevent high blood pressure, the amount you get in a healthy diet is enough. Magnesium is found in whole grains, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and dry peas and beans.

Fish oils. A type of fat called "omega-3 fatty acids" is found in fatty fish like mackerel and salmon. Large amounts of fish oils may help reduce high blood pressure, but their role in prevention is unclear. Taking fish oil pills is not recommended because high doses can cause unpleasant side effects. The pills are also high in fat and calories. Of course, most fish, if not fried or made with added fat, is low in saturated fat and calories and can be eaten often.

Should I Limit Caffeine Intake if I am Worried About My Blood Pressure?

The caffeine in drinks like coffee, tea and sodas may cause blood pressure to go up, but only temporarily. In a short time your blood pressure will go back down. Unless you are sensitive to caffeine and your blood pressure does not go down, you do not have to limit caffeine to avoid developing high blood pressure.

Can Stress Affect Blood Pressure?

Yes. Stress can make blood pressure go up for a while and over time may contribute to the cause of high blood pressure. There are many steps you can take to reduce your stress. The article on easing stress will get you started.

What About Blood Pressure Drugs?

If you have high blood pressure, the lifestyle changes mentioned above may not lower your pressure enough. Your doctor may recommend adding medication.

Most people with hypertension need more than one drug to lower their blood pressure. The types of high blood pressure drugs include:

Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious disability. That's why it's so important to reduce your risk factors, know the warning signs, and know how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur.

If you or a loved one has heart disease, when must you call the doctor? When should you head for the emergency room?

When To Call The Doctor

When caring for a person with heart disease, it is important to know which symptoms require a doctor's attention. If you notice any of the symptoms described below in the person you are caring for, call the doctor as soon as possible. In case of emergency, keep the doctor's phone number next to your phone.

• A feeling of fullness (bloating) in the stomach with a loss of appetite or nausea
• Extreme fatigue or decreased ability to complete daily activities
• A respiratory infection or a cough that has become worse
• Fast heart rate (above 100 beats per minute)
• New, irregular heartbeat
• Chest pain or discomfort during activity that is relieved with rest
• Difficulty breathing during regular activities or at rest
• Decreased urination
• Restlessness, confusion
• Constant dizziness or lightheadedness
• Nausea or poor appetite
• Changes in sleep patterns, including difficulty sleeping or feeling the need to sleep a lot more than usual

Heart Attack Warning Signs

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense - the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.


• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.


• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.


• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness


• New chest pain or discomfort that is severe, unexpected, and occurs with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or weakness


• Fast heart rate (more than 120-150 beats per minute) - especially if you are short of breath, too


• Shortness of breath NOT relieved by rest


• Sudden weakness or paralysis (inability to move) in the arms or legs


• Sudden, severe headache


• Fainting spell with loss of consciousness

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives - maybe your own. Don't wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1.

Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive - up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room.

If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.

Some of the tastiest and healthful fruits you may never have heard of, from acai to guava to papaya, are making their way to your grocery store. Learn how to enjoy these vitamin-rich tropical fruits, and discover why they're good for you, with these quick tips.

Passion fruit

Highly fragrant, egg-shaped and purple, red, or yellow when mature, the passion fruit is rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber - with only 16 calories per fruit. Tasting a lot like guava, enjoy the passion fruit sliced in half, scooping out the seedy pulp. Or experiment: Serve it over low-fat yogurt, in fruit salads, or with chicken, pork, or fish. Strain the pulp and use it in juices, cocktails, desserts, and sauces.

Star fruit (carambola)

A waxy, golden-yellow fruit tasting of citrus, apple, and plum, star fruit hails from Southeast Asia. Sweet-tart, each fruit contains 40 calories and is a great source of vitamin C. Wash, slice, and eat the entire star-shaped treat - there's no need to peel or seed it. Add it to salads, savory dishes or use as a garnish. Because it contains kidney stone-forming oxalic acid, people with kidney problems should NOT eat star fruit.

Acai

This tiny, dark, round fruit is about the size of a blueberry (with a large, inedible seed) and tastes like chocolate and wild berries. Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is enjoyed mostly as juice in health drinks and smoothies or dried and mixed with granola. Called a "super food", acai is rich in anthocyanins (responsible for its royal purple color) and essential fatty acids, both believed to provide many health benefits.

Mango

Originally from Southeast Asia, egg-shaped mangos range in color from green to yellow to red. Packed with antioxidant vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber, mangoes are easy to enjoy. Just peel away the skin, cut away the large seed, and enjoy the rich, orange flesh,bursting with a sweet, tropical taste. Available fresh, frozen, or dried, versatile mangoes can be found in dishes from sweet to savory.

Papaya

The pear-shaped papaya is native to Central America and has soft, buttery flesh with peppery, edible seeds. This sweet, musky fruit can be as big as 20 inches but is typically about 7 inches long, with 118 calories, lots of vitamin C, and a good source of folate and potassium. Papaya contains the enzyme papain, used in meat tenderizers and useful in protein digestion. Enjoy papayas fresh or baked, with a squeeze of lemon or lime.

Pomegranate

Beautiful pomegranates are available fresh in the fall and are popular as decor on holiday tables. About the size of an apple, the deep red fruit is filled with jewel-toned seeds held in place with a spongy membrane. Only the seeds, sweet-tart and crunchy, are edible. Squeeze for ruby red juice or eat the seeds plain, with fruits, on salads, or atop low-fat yogurt and desserts. One half cup has 80 calories.

Guava

Juicy, sweet, and acidic, the guava's taste is reminiscent of strawberries and pears. The edible rind may be white, yellow, pink, or red and may be seedless or filled with pale, edible seeds. Round, oval, or pear-shaped, guavas tend to be 2-4 inches long and are an excellent source of vitamin C. Also containing vitamin A, fiber, potassium and phosphorus, use guava in juices, jams, and desserts.

Kiwi Fruit

Grown on a vine, these egg-shaped fruits are best known for their fuzzy brown skin and sweet-tart flesh. With only 70 calories, kiwis are a great source of potassium and fiber, with twice the vitamin C of an orange. Peel with a vegetable peeler (though the skin is edible) and enjoy the delicious green or golden flesh and tiny, edible seeds. Use kiwis in salads, smoothies, juices, or atop low fat yogurt.

Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering candies. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models. The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th-century America was a harbinger of the future commercialization of holidays in the United States.

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women.

I would like to wish all of my readers a very happy Valentine's Day!

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