May 4/La Jolla, Cal./PR Newswire -- Kashi Company released significant data from a heart health survey it recently conducted with EverydayHealth.com. Results of the survey, taken by nearly 5,000 health-minded American women, found that almost 60% of respondents are very concerned about their heart health. Of this percentage, only 45% are under the age of 55.

Survey findings also suggest 77% of women polled know they are at risk for heart disease. However, 41% have not talked to their doctor about taking preventative measures, and 73% have not talked to their family about hereditary factors. In addition, over half of those who admitted to never proactively looking for heart healthy foods say they do not know how to find these foods.

"What this survey told us is that there are many women who have heart health concerns, but are not voicing them and are generally unsure of how they can do more for their heart," said Keegan Sheridan, natural food and lifestyle expert at Kashi. "We know that the keystone to proper health and nutrition is education, so our goal is to use these findings to spread awareness about heart health so the public will feel more confident in making heart-healthy lifestyle decisions."

The survey found the older population to be more conscious of heart-healthy foods than the younger population, with 49% of respondents 55 years old and over always looking for foods that support heart health, compared to 32% who are under the age of 55, causing concern for today's younger generation.

"It is unfortunate to see people of any age disregard heart health, but these figures showed us that younger generations, in particular, are not proactively looking for heart-healthy foods because they cannot find them, or they are unsure of what to look for," continued Sheridan. "This strongly supports our decision to continue emphasizing not only the nutritionals and value of our heart healthy foods, but also encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle."

From the May 10, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition