Corazonas Heart Healthy Snacks

Back to the Future

2009-09-27T15:51:00.001-07:00

Given the importance of this month, I decided to break my routine of work outs and go back to some of my old favorites, pilates, step aerobics and aerobics as variety to my normal routine of walking and elliptical machine work outs. I had so much fun!!!! I forgot how much I enjoyed doing more 'dance-like' routines in my work out. I would turn on some old tunes from my college days and early 20's and grab some hand weights & get moving!!!!

I am loving that my arms are more toned and I am noticing the positive effects in many locations!!!! Intellectually I think we all know that you need to change up your work outs to get better impact, but I was stuck in what fit my schedule. I actually started enjoying my work outs again and look forward to the great feeling I get when I'm done. Now I just need to make sure I don't get into a rut again!

And now that Dancing with the Stars has started again, well I may do my workouts to music while watching/listening to that show!!!!

Exercise Helps Keep the LDL Down!

2009-09-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hello! First of all, would like to introduce myself, my name is Floyd Scott Lewis and I am the Director of Sales for Corazonas managing the Club and Grocery business for our business primarily on the West Coast. I am one of the fortunate ones in that my LDL cholesterol is very low, 78, which I attribute to exercise, a healthy diet (Corazonas Chips!) and great family & friends!

The primary form of exercise that I do is run at least 4-5 times a week. Usually, I run in the evenings to burn off the stress of the day and on the weekends I generally run longer distances with my Family (Angela - my beautiful wife of 16 years, Elizabeth - 12 years old, Jake - 10 years old, Grace - 4 years old going on 20 and my Dog Oscar). The reason I incorporate exercise into a family event is that I feel it's very important set an example for my family that exercise is a essential to a healthy life and a great way to have fun together without the TV's, Ipods, cell phones, computers etc.... We generally make the trips down to our local parks or beach's here in the city I love to call home Long Beach, CA! My daughter and I completed a triathlon last Sunday and made the local paper...

In terms of my goals during this challenge is continuing my daily routine of exercise and eating the right foods that include fish, primarily Albacore Tuna, and incorporating our chips into my lunch meal and an afternoon snack prior to dinner to maximize the functional benefits of the Corazonas Brand!

Looking forward to seeing some great results from the team next month!

Floyd Scott Lewis - Director of Sales

2009-09-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

I had the fortunate opportunity to really take our product to the test by conducting the Corazonas 28 Day Cholesterol Challenge with a group of 50 people. We worked with the staffs at Arizona Diamondbacks and University of Phoenix to create a little competition to see who could lower their cholesterol more as a team by participating in the 28 Day Challenge. Each team was competing to see not only which team could lower their LDL "bad" cholesterol the most, but also to see who could raise the most money for The Eller Congenital Heart Center at St Joseph Hospital in Phoenix AZ.

On Friday August 14th, we conducted cholesterol screenings for all 50 participants with the help from the nurses at St Joseph's Hospital. The total LDL cholesterol between the two teams totaled 6,437 for an averge of 131 mg/dL. A cholesterol reading of 130 mg/dL is considered borderline high and should be carefully watched and regulated through diet and leading an active lifestyle. With an average of 131 mg/dL, you can imagine how wide a range of readings we drew. We ranged from a low of 50 mg/dL which is considered optimal to over 200 mg/dL which is considered extremely high and should be treated with assistance from your doctor. One observation that I made was that borderline to high cholesterol was not dependent on age, gender, or physical shape as we tested one women in her mid 20's, in great physical shape, and a vegetarian with a LDL Cholesterol reading of 199. This was quite a shock to her as she never realized that she had an issue due to her positive lifestyle. This just shows you that it can affect anyone and many times it is genetically caused versus diet related.

Once each individual receive their test results, they were given three cases of 1oz bags of Corazonas in which they were to consume 2 - 1oz bags of chips a day with meals. After the 28 days we revisted each of the teams facilities to retest their LDL "bad" Cholesterol and determine a winner as well as determine how much we raised for The Eller Congenital Heart Center at St Joseph's Hospital. The Dbacks Staff came out on top with an average LDL cholesterol reduction of 14.39% with over 64% of the members seeing a reduction greater than 20%. The University of Phoenix team had solid results as well with an average LDL choelsterol reduction of 8.03%, however, we had approximately 8 people that were not available for the retesting or were unable to participate in the challenge per the guidelines. We removed these 8 individuals from the total cummulative results. Overall the two teams realized a total LDL cholesterol reduction of 792 mg/dL for an average 18.2 points per person. The average LDL cholesterol readings were 131 pre-challenge and 112.2 post challenge.

On Friday, September 18th, I had the fortunate opportunity to present a check for $5000.00 to St Joesph's Hospital on behalf of the great work that the Dbacks and Universuty of Phoenix staff members did in reducing their cholesterol during the 28 Day Challenge. We were able to present the check live at the Arizona DBacks home game where they beat the Colorado Rockies.

We could not have been able to do this with out the fantastic support and help of the staffs at the Dbacks and University of Phoenix along with our partners at KEZ 99.9 and Fry's Food and Drug Stores.

Our Challenge Has Made the Difference for Me

2009-09-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a teenager, my health has been up and down with many hospital stays. I was very ill and treatments got the best of me due to their side effects. Up until the end of 2006, I was confined to bed and unable to do simple everyday tasks.

Finally, with some natural treatments I was able to turn my health around completely in a short period and am now enjoying life with the good health I so longed for. But I have not been able to control my bad cholesterol due to chronic problems with my feet and knees, which have prevented me from exercising to the point where I can get my heart rate up.

When I discovered Corazonas heart-healthy chips, I was elated that I could eat something so good without guilt and help lower my cholesterol. I enjoy every flavor of Corazonas and have spread the word to everyone I know.

I committed myself to the Corazonas workout challenge for at least 30 minutes a day. I did not know what I could do to achieve that at first. I have a swimming pool at my condo, but I have not worn my bathing suit for at least 5 years. But since I didn’t have much choice, I decided to swim with my 12 year old daughter who swims like a fish. We have been having so much fun racing with each other and playing water basketball that I forget I am exercising. We always end up in the pool 2-3 hours easily. Since I started to swim, my energy level has gone up and my asthma has improved.

I know I would not have started any workout if I didn’t have our Corazonas challenge to commit to (my membership at a fitness club the last 3 years with less than 10 visits is proof). I am glad I started it and I owe it all to the Corazonas team for that little push I needed and those great CHIPS.

MK

Ways to Reduce Cholesterol

2009-09-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

There are several ways to reduce cholesterol and therefore the incidence of cardiovascular disease. I personally do not have high cholesterol levels, but as heart disease is the number one killer in America (according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention) I know that I still face a risk and therefore take preventative measures to keep my heart healthy.

One of the biggest risk factors in my opinion is lifestyle. This is a subject that sometimes gets pushed to the background because it is the hardest to control, but deserves equal treatment along with diet and genetics. Some of the most effective lifestyle changes that can be made to reduce risk of heart disease include:

Eliminating smoking or being around smokers
Exercising frequently (ask your doctor first)
Reducing Stress
Enjoying Family & Being Involved in the Community

The first 3 are no brainers, but enjoying family? Published studies have shown that social connections such as tight knit families and communities suffer much less from heart disease, all other things being equal (for more information on this fascinating subject, read Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell).

Dietary ways to reduce cholesterol are centered around eating less animal products especially red meats and egg yolks. Pick foods that are good to excellent sources of dietary fiber (especially soluble fiber) and treat meat as the side course, not the main course. Meat should be the garnish while vegetables and legumes should form the bulk of the meal (pun intended). Also, try to keep a healthy weight by limiting caloric intake especially late into the evening.

There are still individuals that will be genetically predisposed to having high cholesterol- even those with the perfect diet. Cholesterol comes from not only the food in your diet, but is synthesized in the body. Sometimes otherwise healthy individuals are genetically predisposed to synthesize too much cholesterol and in these cases, drugs or supplements may be appropriate.

Statin drugs such as Lipitor have their place and have prolonged thousands of lives. They work by reducing the amount of cholesterol that the body sythesizes thereby reducing overall cholesterol in the body. Other cholesterol lowering drugs such as Vytorin act in a dual manner limiting cholesterol uptake in the intestine as well as reducing the amount of cholesterol that our bodies synthesize.

For myself, since I don't have high cholesterol, I choose other options:

Plant Sterols:
Plant sterols (sometimes known as phytosterols) are substances found in low levels in plants. The molecular structure of plant sterols emulates the structure of cholesterol. By ingesting plant sterols with a meal, cholesterol absorption in the body can be reduced. I eat around 1 gram of plant sterols daily.

Soluble Fiber:
Soluble fiber from oats, barley legumes and other vegetables provide cholesterol lowering capability. There are specialty products on the market with soluble fiber called Beta Glucans produced from barley and/or oats that can reduce cholesterol. I get most of my soluble fiber the natural way by eating a bowl of oatmeal almost every morning. I also try to choose foods that have added fiber- especially soluble fiber.

Fish Oil:
Oil from fish such as salmon, mackerel, trout, albacore tuna and sardines have been shown to reduce the incidence of heart disease. The famous Omega 3 fatty acids found in these species were discovered to have heart healthy properties when native Inuits from Greenland had a remarkably low incidence of heart diseease eventhough their diets were high in fat. Genetically similar populations of these people that had converted to a western diet were found to have a much higher rate of heart disease than the population that ate a high level of omega 3 rich fish. The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fatty fish per week, and also makes a recommendation to those with high cholesterol to consider taking fish oil capsules containing DHA and EPA (consult your doctor). I personally take one capsule of fish oil with my juice in the morning.

Other Possible Cholesterol Reducers
You may remember the French Paradox. The idea that the French have a low incidence of heart disease even though their consumption of saturated fats such as butter is high. The initial thought was that the red wine that the French consumed counteracted the effects of the higher levels of saturated fat. A compound called resveratrol was thought to be the cause of the reduction of heart disease, but now there is debate as to what the reason is for the lower incidence. Some think it is the polyphenol antioxidant compounds called procyanadins. More research needs to be done. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy one glass of red wine every now and then with my dinner.

Red Yeast Rice. This is a product that is made when a particular strain of yeast is grown on rice. The biproducts of the growth produce certain compounds that can reduce the synthesis of cholesterol. Drugs on the market utilize some of these compounds that are naturally produced by this yeast. There is debate as to whether products on the market are drugs or supplements. I personally do not and would not use this sort of supplement since regulation and oversight are not as stringent.

Niacin
This B vitamin has been shown to increase levels of HDL "good cholesterol". It can definitely be effective but requires a high dose that can cause "niacin flush"- a tingling itching sensation along with reddening of the skin. Talk to your doctor before taking niacin to improve HDL levels.

In summary, heart disease is an epidemic that almost everyone will be affected by whether through a relative, friend, or themselves. You may be able to use of some of the strategies above to get yourself on the right path.

Salmon Flavored Cookies, Anyone?

2009-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

As the Corazonas resident food scientist, I take it upon myself to develop the most effective, heart-healthy products in the market. The trifecta of product development is to make a product that tastes great (so consumers purchase again and again), is clinically effective, and within cost constraints. More often than not, the taste and healthiness of a product are diametrically apposed; so this is the challenge.

Take for instance the time I developed the line of fish flavored cookies complete with all the daily requirements of heart healthy omega 3 fish oil- I was absolutely shocked when my sardine, mackerel, and salmon cookies received a not-so-warm reception in my new products meeting. I admit, the consumer focus groups conducted with the native fish farmers were a bit unrepresentative of our consumer base, but at least I got a great deal! I guess I will chalk it up to learning to not use the fly by night consumer insights firms...

But seriously folks, although the above scenario is fictional, even the closer-to-reality product development scenarios can backfire; so it is a fine line between great taste and health.

I am proud of the new products that are soon arriving to store near you. We are using the most effective way (excluding prescription drugs) to naturally reduce bad cholesterol, and the products taste great as well!

In my next posting, I will describe the different strategies one can use to reduce cholesterol and the pluses and minuses of each.

Stay tuned...

Greg

Not Quite over the Hill YET!

2009-09-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Blogging- never have done it - my son who is now in Law School is a major political blogger so now I can show him how to do this from my perspective
I have been very active my entire life. I played all sports year round and continued to do so into my 50"s. A few years ago I had to give up my passion- basketball- because my knees just could not handle the pounding anymore. The problem was my heart was still into it- my knees just couldn't keep up. So, I have found a new form of exercise. I started playing tennis again about the time I gave up basketball. It is a great sport , and my knees can handle the sport a couple times a week. I also get on the tread mill 3-4 times a week for 40 minutes with the goal to get my heart rate up to 134 in order to give the old ticker a good workout. It feels great after I get warmed up and again my old battered knees seem to hold up even though the first steps in the morning give me the perspective of someone who has been through major knee surgery.
I do all of this for several reasons- first I love the competition, but more important, I have heart disease in my family. My dad first started having heart problems when he turned 54( yikes) and died from a major heart attack at 58. His problems started with being a very heavy smoker, very little exercise, stress from having 4 kids to raise and educate, and a tough economy back in the late 70's and early 80's.
Now I don't smoke, and I do exercise about 4-5 hours every week, but I am also raising 4 kids, trying to educate them, and so I can relate to the stress of doing that.
My cholesterol has always been pretty low, but my LDL started jumping up a few years ago. I love to eat so I need to make sure that I eat the right foods to help offset all of the bad foods that I eat. I am eating one of our new products every day that has enough plant sterols to help lower that dreaded LDL. I let you know how it turns out next month.
Regards,
Langley - Director of Sales East Coast

Heart-Healthy Weekend

2009-09-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

My commitment to heart-healthy activity is going to be especially enjoyable this week...so I thought I would share!

My husband and I, my father-in-law and some family friends are packing up our trailers and motorhomes to take a 3-day camping trip. We try to make a point of getting away (not too far) several times a year. It's a lot of work getting ready to go, but it is so nice to get away! This is one of the things that we like to do to keep ourselves healthy. It's important to take a break from the daily stress and routine and RELAX!!! What better way to do that than to get away from the city, traffic, noise and pollution and unwind with family and friends for a few days!

We have a pretty busy 'agenda' planned. Food, cards, reading, visiting...more food, you get the idea. But aside from relaxing and enjoying ourselves, this gives all of us a chance to get some great walking workouts in. There are different things to see, the air is fresh, the conversation is more relaxed, the terrain is more challenging etc. so it's really motivating to get out and move. It's less workout and more of another opportunity to do something together! I am really looking forward to it! [I should probably mention that setting up camp (even with a trailer) is a pretty good workout too! ]

Menu plans were made earlier this week, with everyone sharing some responsibility, even if it is just clean-up. The entire group is pretty focused on keeping it simple and healthy. Obviously this is a perfect opportunity for anything that goes on the grill, so we are taking full advantage with veggies, chicken, seafood and anything else the 'head chef' dreams up! Definitely heart-healthy fare. Corazonas chips, some salsa and guacamole make a perfect (and guilt-free) snack, that everyone in the group can enjoy while playing cards or relaxing with a good book.

Off to finish packing!

Emily V.

2009-09-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

OK...so I am entirely new to this whole concept of 'blogging' .....but I actually have some things that I thought would be worth sharing....so here goes!

Yes...the Corazonas Team has made a pledge to engage in heart-healthy activity in observance of Cholesterol Education Month.....but I made a commitment to myself years ago, that I would make exercise a regular part of my life. I have, thankfully, been able to keep that commitment!
The fact that we have made a commitment as a team as well, has encouraged me to 'add some time and intensity' to my workouts.

Over the years, I have tried various things...but I usually fall back on something that is easy to remain committed to ...walking or an in home DVD workout. Following the holiday season last year...I discovered what has quickly become my favorite....Leslie Sansone's Indoor Walking System! I will have to admit that I was skeptical that a walking program that did not get you out to hit some hills could actually do any good....just as many are skeptical that potato and tortilla chips can actually help lower your 'bad' cholesterol....yeah right!!!! As is typical following the holidays....I made an effort to add something new to my routine...and figured that I had very little to lose if I wasn't particularly crazy about this program. Worst case...I spent a few dollars on a DVD that I would use on occasion or could pass along to someone who might use it more often. But I was pleasantly surprised! Leslie Sansone's Walking Program is designed to do what our chips allow you to do.....make small easy changes to your life that can have a very positive impact on your health.

The DVD's are great! There are fast, intense workouts for days that are extra busy and longer routines for those days when you can fit it in and have the energy for an extended workout. You can really customize the program to fit your energy and ability level and can keep changing things up, so that your body continues to be challenged.

There are 4 basic steps....but if you don't like them, just keep walking. You can't do anything wrong...other than sit through the workout. There is a warm-up, a high-intensity, heart-healthy segment, a cool down and a stretch. There are frequent reminders to maintain good posture, tighten up your core and BREATHE.....and above all to make it your own workout. It really is pretty easy to talk yourself into exercising, when you know that you can pick something that can be completed in 20 minutes, if time is tight....but that's just as easy to extend your workout by that extra 15 - 30 minutes, when you can fit it in. I LOVE that I can throw just anything on, pull my hair back and get going (that would also explain why I have not included a picture)....and that I can get a good workout even if it's pouring rain. For Cholesterol Education month....I have really upped the intensity a couple of times a week....and now that I'm used to it, I plan to continue this way.

My other 'favorite' workout, is both eco and heart-friendly. I mow my front and back lawn....with a PUSH-mower. Yes...they do still make them! Anyway....it has been pretty hot here the past couple of weeks and we've had a lot of smoke from the fires, so I have 're-scheduled' mowing to Friday mornings before I log on to work from home (eco friendly, as well). This means I have to work fast so that I can 'get to work' on time. I am still including a short/intense walking work-out prior to this....just to be sure that I have some activity in for the day, should something come up that would prevent me from getting to the lawn. I LOVE my push-mower. It is quiet (no disturbing the neighbors) and all that you smell is cut grass. The fact that it's great exercise is an added bonus!

As far as heart-healthy eating goes.....I do have some weaknesses. I have to admit, I cannot give up ice cream....at least not yet; however, poultry and red meat were removed from my diet long ago....and as of about 17 months ago...Corazonas Chips were added as a daily part of my diet.
My favorite summer lunch was low fat cottage cheese, tomatoes from my Dad's garden, chopped avocado....and Corazonas Whole Grain Squeeze of Lime Chips....absolutely PERFECT!!! I'm still enjoying this...but without the home grown tomatoes :( . What's really nice is that when you get to the broken pieces of tortilla chips at the bottom of the bag....they are just as good sprinkled on top....so nothing is wasted! I have serious withdrawal problems if I don't have this flavor especially.... almost every day. One of my daughter's friend labeled them 'addictive'. Nice to know that they are healthy too!

~Cheryl~

Tennis vs Cholesterol: 40 Love!

2009-09-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

As a fan of tennis since I was a youngster playing ball girl at my mom's neighborhood matches and later graduating to play with the adults during summer family parties (our 85 year old grandparents still beat us all!), I always found the US Open to be the most thrilling tournament to watch. The energy and intensity both the players and New York City fans bring to the court is palpable. Inspired by the heart displayed in all the matches over the weekend, my husband and I snagged a court at our local park to hit some balls and get in a high intensity workout.

Whether you have played before or not, this is a game that can be as intense and fun as you make it. Zig zagging all over the court gets your heart pumping and the adrenaline of serving an ace or placing your shot just out of reach of your opponent keeps your heart racing!

In a match between tennis vs cholesterol, tennis would surely come out on top! Find an activity you love as much for its health benefits as how it makes you feel and along with proper diet, you'll be able to call "game-set-match" on a lifetime of healthy cholesterol levels.

Emily
Brand Manager

Bob's Resolution as he "rolled" off the boat

2009-09-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last week I blew both the loot and blew out my belt loops when I took a cruise to the Mexican Riviera. There was food everywhere on the boat and I had no resistence to the constant temptation. It was fun, but as I got off the boat I pledged to get back to my evening run that I had stopped taking last spring. I know that it is important for me to regain and extend my stamina so I can get a solid cardio workout everytime I go out. Over the next 3-4 weeks I plan to increase both distance and pace to help Corazonas meet its team activity pledge and to help me stay healthier and fit. Even though I am fortunate to have very low LDL, I enjoy consuming 1 - 2 ounces a day of my favorite Corazonas Tortilla or Potato chips while at my desk in our corporate offices. In addition to tasting great, I'm not taking for granted my good LDL. I know our chips will help me keep it low.
So move aside Forrest because Bob is coming through!

Bob
Corazonas CFO

Exercise and Me

2009-09-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how this Summer has flown by! I've been running each day at the local park with my friend...and I've lost weight...yeah!! Although the hills are tough we are pushing through. Even though we here at Corazonas are participating in a monthly challenge I had already started my fitness routine so I am off to a great start!

I even went bowling with my family last night to burn a few extra calories!! (Yes - you can burn calories bowling - especially if you get a running start up to the lane and really whip your arm around for that perfect strike)! Of course laying off the nachos and hot dogs helps too!

I can't believe that I'm getting back into my exercise craze! Ever since I had my daughter 2 years ago I've had a hard time adjusting to my (I mean her...everything is about her, of course) new schedule! I even enrolled us in a weekend Mommy & Me gymnastics class. I can't wait! I really want to set a good example for my daughter and exercising and eating right not only makes me feel better but shows her the importance of a healthy lifestyle!

-Amy
Director of Sales, Alternate Channels

Back to Taking Care of our Hearts

2009-08-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow starts National Cholesterol Education Month so it is a great time to get back to some heart-healthier habits!!!!! This Summer has just flown by, and as temperatures are heating up in Southern California, I am excited about getting back into shape in time to enjoy the holidays!!!

The Team here at Corazonas has decided to celebrate this key 'heart' month by creating a Challenge to exercise for at least 30 minutes/day for 5 days each week, while also upgrading our intensity with each workout. I am looking forward to changing my routine from mostly doing the elliptical trainer to adding some variety with aerobic dancing. I am inspired by the upcoming new season of Dancing with the Stars and will use a gift certificate I was given for a ballroom dance lesson! So maybe by the end of the month I will be whirling around the dance floor, with lower choleterol and ready to embrace the upcoming holidays!!!!

I hope you will consider joining me in making this National Cholesterol Education Month really meaningful!

2009-08-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

Shocking Results - You Never Know Until You Are Tested!

We just kicked off the Corazonas Cholesterol Challenge between the staff at Arizona Diamondbacks and the University of Phoenix. We are teaming up with these two organizations along with Marty Manning and KEZ, St Joe’s, and Fry’s to help raise cholesterol awareness and what people can do to help lower their LDL “bad” cholesterol.

We were able to get 25 volunteers from each organization to participate in our challenge of lowering their LDL “bad” Cholesterol to help raise money for The Congenital Heart Center at St Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix Arizona as well as help lower their risk of Coronary Heart Disease. We had a great time as we tested each of the participants LDL Cholesterol and it actually ended up being quite a competition between the two organizations. It was interesting to see how many people did not have any idea what their cholesterol levels were nor really understood what it meant. This just proves to me how important Cholesterol Education Month in September is because elevated cholesterol is a major risk factor of Coronary Heart Disease and people really need to understand the risks associated to elevated cholesterol. To learn more about LDL Cholesterol and how to manage it, visit us at www.corazonas.com .

Based on the results of the test, it was very apparent to me that people should get their LDL “bad” Cholesterol tested as we saw a huge range in the test score results from a low of 50 mg/dL (This is Optimal) to over 200 mg/dL (This is Very High).

LDL Cholesterol Levels What It Means
Source: American Heart Association
Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100-129 mg/dL Near optimal
130-159 mg/dL Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL and above Very high
Source: American Heart Association

The American Heart Association estimates that 1 out of 2 adults have borderline to high LDL cholesterol and we found that 53% of the people tested had elevated cholesterol. What was eye opening was many of those that you would think to be at risk of high LDL cholesterol came in under the 130 level, but several of the participants that you felt would not be at risk had cholesterol readings up to 200 mg/dL. This just shows you that anyone can have high LDL Cholesterol which is a major risk factor for Coronary Heart Disease.

Here are a couple of examples of the extremes we saw during our testing.

1. Female under age 30, approximately 5’2” and ~105 pounds; LDL cholesterol level = 200mg/dL
2. Male late 20’s, approximately 6’ 0” and ~300 pounds; LDL cholesterol level = 109mg/dl
3. Female under age 30, approximately 5’7” and ~120 pounds; LDL cholesterol level = 199mg/dL
4. Male early 30’s, approximately 6’ 1” and ~320 pounds; LDL cholesterol level = 126 mg/dL

What this shows you is that you can never tell if you have high or low cholesterol based on your own individual body composition, dietary intake, or genetic disposition. You will only know if you get tested. Since September is National Cholesterol Education Month, many retailers and companies will be conducting free cholesterol screenings at their sites, so I encourage you to look for one in your area and take the test. It is painless and takes less than 5 minutes to get your results.

Also visit our site www.corazonas.com to start your own 28 day Challenge and snack your way to lower cholesterol.

2009-06-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

Since it is Father's Day, I thought it only appropriate to reflect on how fortunate I am to still have my father alive today after having survived two heart attacks in his life. They were a definite wake up call and he significantly changed his life style to ensure he lives a long life.

Per the American Heart Association, 1 out of 2 adult Americans have borderline to high cholesterol which is a contributor to heart disease and needs to be taken seriously. Most people can control their cholesterol through diet and exercise, but unfortunately there are many people that have hereditary high cholesterol and need to take statin drugs to keep their cholesterol in check. However, the vast majority of the population can keep their cholesterol in check by following the National Education Program guidelines for diet and exercise. By eating a heart healthy low fat diet that include eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods, plus regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Additionally, by adding plant sterols to your diet, you can help reduce your cholesterol by 6 - 15%based on over 140 cliniccal trials that have been conducted. I have included an exceprt from a Clevland Clinic informational document on plant sterols.

What are plant sterols and stanols?
Plant sterols and stanols are naturally occurring substances found in plants. They are present in small quantities in many fruits, vegetables, vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, cereals and legumes.

Why are plant sterols and stanols important? Research has shown that plant sterols/stanols included with a heart healthy eating plan may reduce your risk for heart disease. The sterols/stanols work by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine. This lowers the low density cholesterol known as the 'bad' cholesterol (LDL ) by 6-15%, without lowering the good cholesterol known as the high density cholesterol ( HDL). Clinical research trials have documented safety and effectiveness for use by the entire family. Plant stanols/sterols do not interfere with cholesterol lowering medications.

To see the rest of the article, visit the site listed below.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/Cholesterol/hic_Plant_Sterols_and_Stanols.aspx

Adding plant sterols to your diet can be easy as more and more products are becoming available to consumers through your local retailers. Corazonas Heart Healthy Snacks are one of several food options available today that contain plant sterols to help you manage and/or lower your cholesterol. To achieve your daily intake target of approximately 2 grams of plant sterols per day, you can use a combination of food items with plant sterols such as Corazonas chips, certain margarine spreads, breads, and drinks as well as a host of other products offered on the market today.

Incorporating plant sterols into your diet along with the diet recommendations above will help put you on your way to lowering your cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Happy Father's Day

Now Available Nationwide at Costco!

2009-05-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

If you haven't yet tried our new Squeeze of Lime whole grain tortilla chips, now is your chance! They are available nationwide at Costco and were also recently featured as Rachael Ray's Snack of the Day.

Here's why we love them and hope you will too:
- Gluten free
- 18 grams of whole grain
- 3 grams of fiber
- 2 grams of protein
- Reduced in sodium
- No Trans Fat
- All-Natural

And of course like all our snacks, they are clinically proven to help lower cholesterol! Take our 28-day Cholesterol Challenge to see for yourself!

Two thumbs from dinner guests on incorporating Corazonas Chips in the recipes

2009-05-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday night, we had friends over for dinner and I wanted to try out my new recipe of incorporating Italiano 4 Cheese as a crust on chicken as well as using them in my Caesar Salad as croutons. The results were outstanding and I got rave reviews from our friends on how great the crust on the chicken was and the great texture and flavor it added to the salad. I accompanied the dinner with roasted asparagus and wild long grain rice with cranberries and zucchini. The whole meal was in the spirit of heart healthy meals so there was little to no sat or trans fat and low use of sodium. We of course made sure we rinsed the meal down with a heart healthy Merlot and Cabernet.

The great part was that they were shocked to hear the story on how it was actually heart healthy and helps them lower their cholesterol at the same time. I also got rave reviews from my 20 year old as she popped in to grab some dinner.

This is a great way to get your cholesterol lowering benefits while enjoying an awesome recipe. I will share the actual recipe in this month's Newsletter.

Enjoy and I encourage everyone to try and incorporate Corazonas Chips into your dinner recipes so that you can keep incorporating plant sterols in your diet, thus keeping your cholesterol in check.

My Cholesterol Lowering Story

2009-04-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

With so many options out there today to help lower your LDL "Bad" Cholesterol, it can get confusing. If you have high LDL cholesterol levels, your doctor will most likely prescribe a statin drug therapy to get your LDL cholesterol to safer levels. However, many people such as myself don't like the option of a statin drug regimen. I would prefer to find alternatives than having to commit the rest of my life to taking a drug to keep my cholesterol levels in check.

About 18 months ago, I was told that I needed to lower my cholesterol or else my doctor was going to prescribe a statin drug therapy to help lower my cholesterol. I am one of those unfortunate individuals that gets my high LDL cholesterol levels from genetics. I must admit, I am not always perfect when it comes to eating, but I do try and watch what I eat and I exercise pretty much everyday. Regardless of this my LDL "Bad" Cholesterol was at 182 and my total cholesterol was north of 225. Bottom line, not good.

Well the interesting thing is that a little over a year ago, I began working for Corazonas Heart Healthy Snacks because I spent quite a bit of time understanding and researching what this company was offering and thought it was fabulous. I could once again eat my favorite snacks foods and help lower my cholesterol at the same time. The funny thing is that people's first reaction is yeah right! Well I am here to tell you that it not only works in helping to lower your cholesterol but to help you maintain lower LDL levels as well. As I stated earlier, my LDL "Bad" cholesterol before starting with this company was 182. Within three months my LDL cholesterol drop to 131 and total cholesterol was under 200, I have been able to maintain my LDL "Bad" cholesterol in check for over a year. How did I do it? I started eating our chips everyday along with maintaining my exercise regimen and watching what I eat. I can bore you with the science behind our brand, but it is probably better to hear it from the researchers and doctors that have completed well over 140 studies on plant sterols and the positive effects they have on lowering cholesterol. Visit our website at www.corazonas.com and click on the heart health tab at the top of the home page.

We are so confident in what our product can do for those who struggle with borderline to high cholesterol (by the way, over 107 million Americans age 20 years and older have borderline to high cholesterol per the American Heart Association) we guarantee that we will help lower your cholesterol or we will pay for your chips. This is what we call the Corazonas Cholesterol Challenge. If you consume two 1oz servings of chips per day with meals for 28 consecutive days and you don't lower your cholesterol, we will pay for your chips. Check out our site and hear the stories of several of our consumer who took the challenge and have lost up to 58 points. We are not talking about losing a few points in six weeks, we are talking about people who have realized double digit cholesterol drops.

The other thing to make sure that you do is to truly compare what each company offers and the research behind the claim. Corazonas Heart Healthy Snacks are approved to bear the FDA claim of "Foods containing at least 0.4 G per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a total daily intake of at least 0.8 G, as a part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease." We truly beleive in what we do at Corazonas Heart Healthy Snacks and we welcome you to join us in helping to reduce your risk of heart disease by helping to lower your cholesterol. Also, we welcome your comments, ideas, suggestions, and questions.

All the best,
Matt

2009-04-16T20:47:00.001-07:00

Spring Time!!!!

I am so excited for Spring to have arrived. I always feel great once the days get longer and warmer. I love being outdoors and enjoying the sunshine.

Easter was beautiful in Los Angeles, and made even better by the fact that all three of my brothers, their wives and all of my nieces and nephews celebrated Easter together at my home. This was the first time in three years that we have all been together and I think I enjoyed it most of all!!!! We had a nice leisurely brunch, viewed photos and memorabilia from our childhood and had an Easter egg hunt in the back yard. I think I enjoy our family gatherings more and more as I get older. I simply love and cherish every minute we spend together!

This week we also conducted focus groups to learn more about our future and current consumers. It is always so fascinating to sit in a back room and watch and listen to people talk about our product! It is also incredibly heartwarming to hear our current users speak about how much they love our Corazonas chips and our company! I can’t tell you how great it feels to know that we are making a difference for friends with heart disease! I walked out of those groups last night absolutely in love with our users and even more committed to making better products and programs to support others with heart disease. I didn’t think it was possible, but I am even more dedicated to finding ways to offer more cholesterol-lowering snack foods that also taste great!!!!!

Thank you so very much for your support of Corazonas Foods!

It's American Heart Month!

2009-02-04T16:41:00.000-08:00

Do you need to lower your cholesterol? Get started today with our 28-day challenge! There are just two simple steps:

1. Consume at least two, 1oz servings of Corazonas heart-healthy chips with meals for 28 consecutive days
2. Take a cholesterol test that measures LDL cholesterol within 10 days following the 28-day challenge. If you don't lower your cholesterol, we'll pay for your chips!*

Incoporating heart-healthy nutrition and an active lifestyle is an important part of your daily regimen. Visit www.corazonas.com for tips, recipes, and a store near you to get started!

And remember, we are donating $.10 of every bag purchased in February to WomenHeart, so your heart will benefit in more ways than one!

* Up to $24. Full rules, regulations and redemption form available at www.corazonas.com.

The Fancy Food Show

2009-01-22T14:50:00.000-08:00

This week we debuted our new whole grain chips at the Fancy Food Show held in San Francisco. If you love anything and everything to do with food, this show is not to be missed! We had a great response to our new chips (Squeeze of Lime was a fan favorite) and connected with both new and familiar faces. Thanks for all your support and we look forward to seeing you in March at Natural Products Expo West!

What a Great Year!

2009-01-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

2008 was a wonderful year for Corazonas Foods. Several incredible people who are passionate about our products joined us. I could not feel more blessed to have so many kind and caring families join us in our quest to share our heart healthy chips with those looking for truly heart healthy and great tasting chips!!!!

In addition to building this amazing team, I personally had a wonderful year sharing the Corazonas story with others. One noteworthy speech took place at the PacRim Entreprenuer Summit in Shanghai, China. This event was conducted with the help of Entreprenuer Programs from 16 Universities around the world. I was honored to be apart of one of the panels, representing my alma mater, the University of Southern California (see photo of some of the USC contingent flashing our 'Fight On' symbol on The Great Wall).

I decided it was important to see how we looked amongst the competition in China, so I took our bags to The Great Wall

as well as the Bird's Nest Olympic Venue in Beijing (read the fine print on the rack --- does it get any better than that?).

I thought they fit in quite nicely, don't you?

After this incredible experience, I now need to consider which opportunity is the right one for Corazonas Foods to explore, of course that will not be until after we finish expanding distribution in the United States!!!!

Seriously, I love sharing our story and bringing Corazonas chips to new markets and new friends. I can't wait to bring our great tasting, cholesterol lowering chips to many more in the United States. One of my New Year's resolutions is to write in our blog more often!

Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Ramona

Holiday Happenings

2008-12-17T12:41:00.001-08:00

What do you get when you take a CFO with a leopard-print steering wheel cover, a Director of Sales with a Homer Simpson chia pet, and an Asst. Brand Manager with a shoe shine kit?

A Corazonas Foods white elephant gift exchange!

The Corazonas team recently celebrated the holidays with a white elephant gift swap. Lots of laughter and some very unique gifts were exchanged.

We hope it is a wonderful holiday season for all, filled with lots of love, laughter and fond memories.

Have a Hearty Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

We at Corazonas are especially thankful to our all fans who support us on our mission. We truly appreciate you helping to spread the word and making heart health a focus in the lives of your families and friends. While much of the traditional Thanksgiving menu is actually heart healthy, we thought we would share some simple tips for an even healthier and satisfying meal.

For the main course, choose skinless white turkey meat. Dark meat has more saturated fat than white, and the skin adds more unhealthy fats that you won't miss! Add flavor to your turkey and side dishes primarily with herbs and spices instead of butter and salt. Fresh rosemary, nutmeg, sage, thyme and olive oil are the perfect additions to limit sodium and saturated fat.

Cranberries are naturally full of antioxidants and making your own cranberry sauce allows you to control the sugar content. For the stuffing, add in fresh spinach for additional minerals. And don't shy away from nuts! A handful is a great source of heart-healthy fats.

Enjoy your feast and don't forget to pick up some heart-healthy chips for the weekend sporting events!

2008-11-21T14:54:00.000-08:00

We are honored to be one of Derrick Hall's favorite snacks! President of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Mr. Hall first emailed our media maven, Karsha Chang, telling her, "I just wanted you to know that I am spreading the good word on Corazonas to everyone! Love the product that you are helping from a PR standpoint."

Emily Longway and Joe Beauprez traveled to Phoenix yesterday to participate in the Diamondbacks' corporate Health Expo to educate attendees and spread the word about Corazonas. They found that word had already spread about our product thanks to Mr. Hall!