Recipe: Fresh Greens for Heart Health

Apple Collard SaladServes: 6 | Serving Size: 1 cup2 teaspoons olive oil1 small onion, peeled and thinly sliced2 apples, cored and sliced1/4 cup walnut pieces1 12 ounce bag of frozen chopped collard greensBlack pepper to tasteJuice of 1 lemonHeat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion, apples, and walnuts until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes.Add the collard greens and cover. Cook until heated through, about 8 minutes.Stir well and season with lemon and black pepper. Serve hot.Serves 6. Each 1 cup serving: 102 calories, 5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 29 mg sodium, 14 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 3 g protein.Collard Green FactsCollard greens are members of the cabbage family.Collard greens are an excellent source of vitamins A and K. They’re also a good source of vitamin C.Studies indicate that collard greens are better at lowering cholesterol than some of their other vegetable cousins. Collards outshone mustard greens, broccoli, and kale in terms of bile acid binding, which leads to cholesterol removal.Overcooked collard greens smell like sulfur, so be sure to watch them carefully. Only cook them as much as you absolutely need to.Apple FactsThe polyphenols found in apples may help prevent blood sugar spikes.Apples are part of the Rose family, just like almonds, apricots, raspberries, and cherries. What a varied family!Eating apples regularly may help reduce your LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. Maybe they really do keep the doctor away!