How much do you know about cholesterol? Whatever the answer may be, it's important to be equipped with the right knowledge. So, we thought we would shed some light on the topic.
We have teamed up with Benecol to celebrate the launch of the new soft cheese, which is kind to your heart. With its unique cholesterol-lowering benefits, it is actually the only soft cheese proven to lower cholesterol. The product, which hit shelves in July 2021, comes in three delicious flavours: plain, garlic and chive. As you'd expect, it's free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. Plus, it's lactose-free and gluten-free.
You can pick up a pack yourself today from Tesco, Dunnes Stores and Supervalu.
While we're on the subject of cholesterol and heart health, let's get into it. Here are five facts and common myths about cholesterol.
Myth: Only older people suffer from high cholesterol
This is false. Everyone can suffer from high cholesterol, no matter their age. It is caused by the food we eat amongst other things like a lack of exercise and smoking. It is true that as we age, we are more likely to have raised total cholesterol, but
research suggests that a large number of young people also have cholesterol levels that are too high and so are putting their health at risk.
Fact: There are no obvious symptoms of high cholesterol
There are no obvious symptoms of high cholesterol, making it a hidden health hazard. This is why it's important to be aware of the food we eat amongst other habits (like exercise, smoking, drinking, etc) and get checked.
Myth: All cholesterol is bad
There is actually such a thing as 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol. HDL is ‘good’ cholesterol, carries excess cholesterol away from the arteries and takes them to the liver. Here, cholesterol is broken down and then eliminated from the body. Meanwhile, LDL cholesterol is known as 'bad' cholesterol. This will all be broken down and explained when you get your cholesterol levels measured.
Fact: 1 in 10 of the Irish population has high cholesterol
High cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease CVD. At least 20% of Irish males and females over 55 years have high cholesterol.
What exactly is cholesterol?
To put it simply, cholesterol is a wax-like, fatty substance that’s sometimes called blood fat because it circulates in our blood. It has many functions like making hormones such as cortisol, testosterone and progesterone. But, high levels of cholesterol can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
The plant stanols in Benecol have been proven to lower a person's cholesterol levels.
Looking after your heart health and cholesterol levels doesn't mean you have to punish yourself with the food you eat. You can still enjoy delicious meals while still looking after yourself, which is why we're buzzing to team up with Benecol to celebrate the launch of their brand new soft cheese as well as their whole, good-for-your-heart range of products.
To find out more about Cholesterol, head
here.
To learn more about the Benecol range, you can check out their website
here.
*Plant stanol ester has been shown to lower cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. The beneficial effect has been shown with a daily intake of 1.5-3.0g plant stanols.
