Women vs Men: The Heart

HOLE HEAT AFFLESW

Craving something sweet but worried about your heart health? Well we’ve got you covered with this simple whole wheat waffle recipe that is not only healthy, but also delicious.

Fresh fruits such as sliced bananas or berries are a great way to naturally add fiber, vitamins and minerals, and sweetness to the meal. This waffle batter contains no added sugar.

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup of 100% whole wheat flour • ¾ cup low-fat milk (you could use unflavored, unsweetened flaxseed milk or almond milk) • 1 large egg • ¼ cup canola oil • 2 tablespoons baking powder • 1 tablespoon vanilla • ½ tablespoon cinnamon • 1/8 tablespoon salt

OPTIONAL: ½ cup chopped walnuts, 1 tablespoon nut butter, and 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup for the topping

Directions:

• Preheat your waffle iron • Beat the eggs into a large bowl. Beat in flour, milk, baking powder, oil, salt and the vanilla just until smooth • Spray the pre-heated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour your mix into the hot waffle iron. Cook until waffles turn golden brown • Serve warm, top them with sliced bananas, and drizzle with nut butter and maple syrup to your taste • Enjoy! Recipe from homebase.org

Behind the White Coat:

Dr. Ashu Dhanjal

Dr. Dhanjal knew she wanted to become a physician at the young age of six years. “I had uncles who were physicians and I wanted to be just like them,” Dr. Dhanjal says.

Dr. Dhanjal went on to pursue her lifelong dream by enrolling in medical school at Lady Harding Medical College in India. She then pursued her internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at Marshall University, West Virginia.

Dr. Dhanjal loves what she does, however, being a woman in the field has not been without its challenges. While she admits that she has had a few patients that have challenged her or had a hard time accepting a female cardiologist, she believes being a woman has allowed her to provide better patient care. “Being a woman, I feel like my family caregiver responsibilities carry over to patient care; because patients become almost like family to me” she says.

Dr. Dhanjal is passionate about preventing heart disease in women. As a wife and mother of two young girls, Dr. Dhanjal knows personally how hard it can be to balance home life while also taking care of yourself. For the last eight years, she has been actively involved in the “Go Red for Women” campaign in collaboration with the American Heart Association to raise awareness around heart disease in women. She also served as the cardiologist for the Razorbacks in Northwest Arkansas.

Over the years, Dr. Dhanjal has treated thousands of patients. Each patient has their own story. Dr. Dhanjal recalls a young man who was an alcoholic. He had congestive heart failure, multiple organ failure, and was very sick. After a long stay in the hospital, he turned his life around. He quit drinking, lost 50 pounds, and has not been to the hospital since. “He always reminds me that no matter how bad it gets, with determination, you can always turn your life around,” Dr. Dhanjal says.

At the end of every day, Dr. Dhanjal looks forward to coming home to her two beautiful daughters. Their smiles and stories are her ultimate destressor.