CHAPTER 3: LOVE YOUR HEART WITH FLORA

As part of a healthy diet, FLORA can lower cholesterol and help keep your heart and arteries healthy

High in Good Fats and Lower in Bad Fats

FLORA Spread is a rich source of 'good' polyunsaturated fats, is virtually trans fat free and has less saturated fats than butter.

FLORA provides essential fatty acids

FLORA Original is ...

Made with 'Good Fats' and Vitamins

• High in essential polyunsaturates
• Rich in Omega 3 & 6 oils
• Rich in Folic Acid, Vitamins B6, B12, D & E
• A good source of Vitamin A and D
• No Hydrogenated Oils

Also suitable for Vegetarians & Gluten Free

While maintaining a varied, balanced diet and an active lifestyle, swapping foods with a high in saturated fat content like butter, for foods that contain less saturates and more polyunsaturated fats such as FLORA spreads with omega 3 & 6, can help keep your heart healthy. It is important to avoid saturated fats from an early age as the onset of heart problems can start early on in life. FLORA spreads can be easily incorporated into meals enjoyed by all the family and starting young means that looking after your heart health becomes second nature.

Major Health organisations recommend swapping bad saturated
fats for good fats:

• Joint WHO/FAO Expert Report on diet, nutrition & the prevention of chronic disease - Food based guidelines. 'Control fat intake. Replace saturated fats with unsaturated vegetable oils or soft margarine'*
• American Heart Association: 'Choose fats and oils with 2 grams or less saturated fat per tablespoon, such as liquid and tub margarine, canola oil and olive oil'**

Recommendations for trans fats

• Department of Health: ' Trans fatty acid intake in the UK should be less than 2% of total energy and consideration should be given to ways of decreasing the amount in the diet.'
  Survey: Adults aged 19-64 years, Volume 2: energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat and alcohol intake. HMSO, 1994 Department of Health. Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease. London: HMSO, 1994
• U.S National Academies of Science, Institute of Medicine: 'Trans fat consumption should be as low as possible.'
• World Health Organisation: 'Trans fat intake should be limited to less than 1% of overall energy intake.'

*Joint WHO/FAO Expert Report on diet, nutrition & the prevention of chronic disease (2003)
**American Heart Association - Eating plan for healthy Americans 2000

There is now increased recognition and evidence that these vitamins are important to help keep your heart healthy. The added vitamins support the heart health benefits you can receive from consuming FLORA spreads as part of a healthy diet. FLORA is rich in vitamin E and a good source of vitamins A and D.

Offering a choice of butter and FLORA will give your customers the choice that they are looking for and you could help keep their hearts healthy at the same time. Swapping butter for FLORA spreads that are high in polyunsaturated fats compared to butter, is a simple step that you can make.

Look at the fat content of foods by reading the food label. Compare products and select one with a lower fat content, or with the lowest saturated fat level.

When shopping for a spread for your bread, remember that the harder the spread at room temperature, the higher the saturated fat content.

Switch to using lower fat dairy products – such as reduced fat cheese, low fat/reduced fat yoghurts, skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.

Try cutting down on processed and fatty meats and replacing them with lean cuts of meat or chicken/turkey (without the skin) or oily fish such as mackerel, herring or fresh tuna.

Eating fewer commercially made biscuits, pastries and cakes will really help. How about trying healthier snacks such as fruit, dried fruit, breadsticks, vegetable sticks or home-made fruit smoothies?

Experiment with lower fat cooking methods such as grilling, poaching, steaming or using the microwave.

FLORA Heart training materials are for information purposes only. Individual requirements vary depending on age, sex, weight and level of physical activity. If you have any concerns about your heart health or diet please consult your doctor.