Healthy Hearts

The Foods that Allow Members of a Cargo Ship’s Crew to Have Healthy Hearts The professionals that oversee the catering services for cargo ships realize that their decisions must help to maintain the health of crew members. For that reason, each such professional needs to become familiar with the foods and beverages that have received a nod of approval from organizations such as the American Heart Association. When such an organization approves of a food or beverage, then that edible item can be counted on to keep hearts healthy, when served to the members of a ship’s crew. Like the experts on maritime catering management, health professionals read and study the latest literature that pertains to their chosen field. For example, they peruse the information that comes from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS). That long-term study aids an evaluation of patients’ nutritional and lifestyle factors. Hence, the study’s results shed light on the foods and beverages that ought to be included in the diet of a man that is working on a cargo ship. Sponsored by the Harvard School of Public Health and funded by the National Cancer Institute, the HPFS examines the aspects of daily living that can put men at risk for heart or vascular diseases. Obviously, all men, including those that have signed onto a cargo ship’s crew, eat several meals each day. For that reason, those concerned with catering for ships ought to make note of the recommendations that come from those professionals that have linked particular foods to maintenance of heart health. According to such professionals, those in charge of victualling management should make a point of arranging for access by crew members to the following foods: 1) 6 to 8 daily servings of fiber-rich whole grains 2) 4 to 5 servings of vegetables per day 3) 4 to 5 servings of fruit per day When experts in charge of ship catering services follow those recommendations, then those vessels that benefit from such services have on board a crew with well-regulated blood pressure. In addition, each man in one of those same crews has a healthy cholesterol level. Suggested ways to follow the above recommendations Now, once an expert in on board catering management reads that each crew member on a cargo vessel ought to be provided with the stated quantities of fruits, vegetables and fiber-rich whole grains, that same individual must use that information to design a meal plan. In other words, the meal plans must make it possible for a chef to adhere to the recommendations that come from organizations such as the American Heart Association. Here are some guidelines for following those same recommendations. One serving of a vegetable equals 1 cup of raw, leafy vegetables, ½ cup of cut vegetables (cooked or raw) or ½ cup of vegetable juice. One serving of fruit equals one fruit with a size that is close to that of a baseball. When fresh fruit is not available, the serving size of interest could be ½ cup of dried fruit or ½ cup of fruit juice. Sources of fiber-rich grains include whole-wheat bread, wholegrain crackers and brown rice, along with whole grain pasta, cooked cereal or dry cereal. Other helpful suggestions In addition to its size, the color of a served fruit or vegetable ought to be noted. Experts in marine catering should work to have a colorful plate placed before each man that sits down to a meal on a cargo vessel. Such a plate might contain deep colored vegetables such as spinach, carrots or broccoli, or deep colored fruits. Because crew members lead active lives, each of them requires a diet that serves as an excellent source of Vitamin E. Vitamin E helps to maintain vascular health by ensuring a balance of good and bad cholesterol. Maintenance of that ratio aids recovery from exertion. Hence, sources of Vitamin E should be found in the kitchen of a cargo vessel. Of course, if an expert in ship catering hopes to guarantee the presence of such items in the a ship’s kitchen, then that same person must learn what foods contain a wealth of Vitamin E. Seeds and oils represent the best source, notably flaxseed oil, hemp oil, raspberry seed oil and cranberry seed oil, along with whole pumpkin seeds and pomegranate seeds.   [caption id="attachment_3510" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Fruits and vegetables on wooden background[/caption]