With new research confirming why even young adults should be concerned about how their diets may impact their future heart health, some people are asking: Are we heeding the message? Dr Britt Burton-Freeman isn’t so sure. Burton-Freeman is the director of the Center for Nutrition Research at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health. As a guest on Sirius Satellite Radio, she confirmed the importance of diet in supporting heart health, and began describing grape seed extract’s effect on blood vessels.

Many people don’t consider the implications of their diet on cardiovascular health until later in life. “Diet is important early on, in the middle and later on,” said Burton-Freeman. “All the way through it is important.” It’s common knowledge that healthy foods are better for your body than junk foods, yet Burton-Freeman explained that people struggle with actually consuming these nutritious foods. “We have a problem in the uptake of advice.”

Burton-Freeman explained that people need to return to eating the healthier foods associated with the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet, such as nuts, berries, extra virgin olive oil and avocados. “We just need to get people back acquainted with those foods,” she said.

When asked how scientists and doctors are doing in terms of educating their patients on heart-healthy foods, Burton-Freeman expressed concern. “I wouldn’t say that we are doing fantastic. We have a lot of room to improve.”

Her research indicates that grape seed extract supports healthy blood pressure levels by causing blood vessels to relax. Burton-Freeman used purified MegaNatural-BP grape seed extract in her work. This patented ingredient has also been shown to lower blood pressure in clinical trials conducted at the University of California, Davis. MegaNatural-BP is included in many heart health supplements, including those by GNC, Healthy Origins and Swanson.