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Yahoo Finance: New Winery Places Women’s Heart Health at It’s Core….

Wine and Heart HealthNapa/Sonoma Heart Surgeon and His Wife Unveil a New Winery That Places Women’s Heart Health at the Core of Their Family-Run Business

GrapeHeart Vineyards unveiled the first vintage of their GrapeHeart Cabernet Sauvignon and ‘The Beat’ red wine blend. Sourced from the GrapeHeart Estate Vineyards in Suisun Valley, California, the winery was founded by a heart surgeon and his wife who are dedicated to promoting heart health, as well as making superior wines.

As part of today’s announcement, GrapeHeart Vineyards also announced that they are now the official wine partner of the Sister to Sister Foundation, a women’s heart health foundation that is dedicated to preventing heart disease in women. GrapeHeart Vineyards will donate a percentage of their wine sales to the Sister to Sister Foundation and will promote the foundation through their sales and marketing efforts.

“Heart disease is the #1 killer for women and we are pleased to support such a wonderful organization,” said Isabel Deeik, Proprietor and Managing Partner of GrapeHeart Vineyards. “It’s a cause that is near and dear to our hearts.”

“Quality is essential and is never an accident, whether it’s in heart surgery or wine crafting,” said Dr. Ramzi Deeik, Proprietor of GrapeHeart Vineyards. “My wife and I started this project committed to doing the very best and we feel our first vintage is a reflection of our team’s hard work and dedication.”

The GrapeHeart Estate is located in the Suisun Valley AVA, a unique eight miles long valley Southeast of Napa. GrapeHeart Vineyards sits on 40 acres, backing up to the base of the southwestern slope of the Mt George Range. This location makes for optimal growing conditions for balanced, elegant wines that offer a distinctive sense of place.

 

About GrapeHeart Vineyards

GrapeHeart Vineyards is a limited production, family-owned winery owned by a Napa/Sonoma heart surgeon, Ramzi Deeik and his wife, Isabel. GrapeHeart makes elegant Cabernet Sauvignon wines and red blends in Napa.

More….

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/napa-sonoma-heart-surgeon-wife-145513477.html

How to Choose a Red Wine

When I ventured out into the red wine territory from my white wine habit, I was intimidated.  Even the experts offered conflicting advice and direction.  You don’t have to be intimidated.  Below is a great short list of how to approach red wine, found on the Napa.org website.

You don’t have to rely on just Napa and Sonoma Valley wines from Northern California.  Suisun Valley wines are up and coming, rapidly taking a place on the table in restaurants and wine bars.  Try one on your dining room table and envision a walk through the vineyards in Suisun Valley.

Enjoy!

Choosing the Intensity

The first step is determining what type of red wine you are interested in. You may be looking for a wine that is dry and intensely flavored, or one that is lighter and fruitier. The more intense red wines are Cabernet sauvignon, Shiraz, and red zinfandel. The lighter red wines include Chianti, Beaujolais, and red table wines.

Finding The Right Vintage

When you set out to buy red wine, it is important to know that these wines get better with age. Generally, wine experts agree that red wine reaches its maturity after three years, so look for wines that were bottled at least three years ago.

Experiment With Wine From Different Regions

While browsing through wine choices, you will notice that there are varieties from all over the world. It used to be that most of the wines available were either French, Italian, or from the Napa Valley. However, today it is easy buy red wine from places such as Chile, Bolivia, Australia and South Africa, and they are readily available in most stores. Try some from each region in order to get an idea of the subtle differences in flavor.

Ask For Recommendations

Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations from salespeople. Most major supermarkets these days have their own wine buyers and employ knowledgeable representatives in the store who can help you make your choices. If you are shopping at a wine store, there are sure to be experts available there to answer any questions you have.

As seen on Napa.org

Heart Health Myths

How much do you really know about your heart’s health? It’s easy to be fooled by misconceptions. After all, heart disease only happens to your elderly neighbor or to your fried food-loving uncle, right? Or do you know the real truth – that heart disease can affect people of any age, even those who eat right?

Relying on false assumptions can be dangerous to your heart. Cardiovascular disease kills more Americans each year than any other disease. But you can boost your heart smarts by separating fact from fiction. Let’s set the record straight on some common myths.

  1. “I’m too young to worry about heart disease.” How you live now affects your risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life. As early as childhood and adolescence, plaque can start accumulating in the arteries and later lead to clogged arteries. One in three Americans has cardiovascular disease, but not all of them are senior citizens. Even young and middle-aged people can develop heart problems – especially now that obesity, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors are becoming more common at a younger age.
  2. “I’d know if I had high blood pressure because there would be warning signs.” High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because you don’t usually know you have it. You may never experience symptoms, so don’t wait for your body to alert you that there’s a problem. The  way to know if you have high blood pressure is to check your numbers with a simple blood pressure test. Early treatment of high blood pressure is critical because, if left untreated, it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and other serious health problems. Learn how high blood pressure is diagnosed.
  3.  “I’ll know when I’m having a heart attack because I’ll have chest pain.” Not necessarily. Although it’s common to have chest pain or discomfort, a heart attack may cause subtle symptoms. These include shortness of breath, nausea, feeling lightheaded, and pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck or back. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. Learn you risk of heart attack today!
  4. “Diabetes won’t threaten my heart as long as I take my medication.” Treating diabetes can help reduce your risk for or delay the development of cardiovascular diseases. But even when blood sugar levels are under control, you’re still at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. That’s because the risk factors that contribute to diabetes onset also make you more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. These overlapping risk factors include high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and smoking.
  5. “Heart disease runs in my family, so there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.” Although people with a family history of heart disease are at higher risk, you can take steps to dramatically reduce your risk. Create an action plan to keep your heart healthy by tackling these to-dos: get active; control cholesterol; eat better; manage blood pressure; maintain a healthy weight; control blood sugar; and stop smoking.
  6. “I don’t need to have my cholesterol checked until I’m middle-aged.” The American Heart Association recommends you start getting your cholesterol checked at age 20. It’s a good idea to start having a cholesterol test even earlier if your family has a history of heart disease. Children in these families can have high cholesterol levels, putting them at increased risk for developing heart disease as adults. You can help yourself and your family by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
  7. “Heart failure means the heart stops beating.” The heart suddenly stops beating during cardiac arrest, not heart failure. With heart failure, the heart keeps working, but it doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. It can cause shortness of breath, swelling in the feet and ankles or persistent coughing and wheezing. During cardiac arrest, a person loses consciousness and stops normal breathing.
  8. “This pain in my legs must be a sign of aging. I’m sure it has nothing to do with my heart.” Leg pain felt in the muscles could be a sign of a condition called peripheral artery disease. PAD results from blocked arteries in the legs caused by plaque buildup. The risk for heart attack or stroke increases five-fold for people with PAD.
  9. “My heart is beating really fast. I must be having a heart attack.” Some variation in your heart rate is normal. Your heart rate speeds up during exercise or when you get excited, and slows down when you’re sleeping. Most of the time, a change in your heartbeat is nothing to worry about. But sometimes, it can be a sign of arrhythmia, an abnormal or irregular heartbeat. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can last long enough to impact how well the heart works and require treatment.
  10. “I should avoid exercise after having a heart attack.” No! As soon as possible, get moving with a plan approved for you! Research shows that heart attack survivors who are regularly physically active and make other heart-healthy changes live longer than those who don’t. People with chronic conditions typically find that moderate-intensity activity is safe and beneficial. The American Heart Association recommends at least two and a half hours of moderate intensity physical activity each week. Find the help you need by joining a cardiac rehabilitation program, or consult your healthcare provider for advice on developing a physical activity plan tailored to your needs.

As seen at Heart.org