MANY IRISH people are confused about the causes of high cholesterol and wrongly avoid wholesome foods which are important in a balanced diet, a member of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute has said.
Margot Brennan believes there is much uncertainty regarding the reasons for poor heart health and this has made many people obsessed with avoiding certain food groups that have been labelled as bad.
“A lot of people think dairy products and red meats are major sources of fats but they contain important nutrients like calcium and iron,” she said. “People should avoid eating processed foods full of hydrogenated fats and trans fats which are major contributors to cholesterol, obesity and poor heart health.
“Red meats and dairy do contain fats, but the body handles them better than the commercially developed hydrogenated fats which are found in many processed foods.”
Cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is one of the most common causes of death among Irish people, with some 22 per cent of premature deaths in the State each year arising as a result of such diseases.
Ms Brennan said monitoring cholesterol levels and heart health was becoming increasingly important, as “we are becoming more unhealthy” as a nation. “With a rising rate of obesity and a drop in exercise levels there are going to be more heart problems in the future and this is worrying considering how much work has gone into informing the public about the link between cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.”
Ms Brennan’s comments come as a new survey reveals more than half of Irish people, 51 per cent, are concerned about their cholesterol levels.
The TNS survey of 869 people, conducted on behalf of Flora pro activ, found some 36 per cent of respondents believe a balanced diet alone is the most effective way to lower cholesterol. Ms Brennan said for many people this was not enough to avoid cholesterol problems and she identified regular exercise as “very important” in ensuring better heart health. “When taken together, the two can have a dramatic effect on cholesterol levels.”
Ms Brennan said people could try to lower their cholesterol levels by limiting their consumption of confectionary such as sweets, cakes, biscuits and processed meals, as well as being active.
Cholesterol advice, healthy recipes and exercise tips are available on www.loveyourheart
