From the food you eat, to the exercise you take, many things can affect your cholesterol levels and heart health. Use the quick links below to find out more about keeping your heart fit and healthy.
Cholesterol and heart health
Everyone knows reducing our cholesterol level is good for us. In fact it’s one of the most important things we can do to keep our hearts fit and healthy.
But did you know there are actually two kinds of cholesterol, a ‘bad’ kind that can lead to coronary heart disease, and a ‘good’ kind we need to help the cells in our body work properly?
Or, that we can help to beat cholesterol not only by cutting down the amount of saturated fat we eat but by making sure we enjoy at least one bowl of Kellogg’s Optivita with oat bran fibre each day?
A special booklet has been written to help you in looking after your heart and get you on the road to healthier diet and exercise habits.
You can download the booklet as a PDF.
A special booklet has been written to help you take control of your cholesterol.
You can download the booklet as a PDF.
To order free copies of these leaflets please call the Kellogg's Care Line Mon to Fri, 8am-6pm on 0800 626 066
Cholesterol facts - diet & lifestyle
The British Heart Foundation has found that very few people monitor or are even concerned about the dangers of having high cholesterol, yet research shows that 70% of people over 45 have raised cholesterol.
Two-thirds of adults in Britain have a blood cholesterol level above the recommended 5 mmol/l or below; men in England have an average level of 5.5 mmol/l and women 5.6 mmol/l.
Nearly half of all deaths (54%) from cholesterol and heart disease in Britain are due to raised cholesterol.
Cholesterol facts - diet & lifestyle
There are lots of small changes we can make that can add up to a big difference in how healthy we are.
We can choose to walk the half-mile or so to the local shops instead of driving.
We can choose to eat the healthier option.
We can choose to go easy on the salt and enjoy the more subtle and healthier flavours of garlic, herbs and spices.
And we can choose whether or not we have that extra helping.
Small considerations on their own. But doctors and health specialists know they all contribute to a healthier heart and a happy, healthier outlook on life.
They also agree that oat bran, which is rich in a soluble fibre called oat beta-glucan, and other wholegrains like barley, have a real, positive effect on cholesterol levels.
Once in the digestive system, the oat beta-glucan fibre acts like a sponge soaking up cholesterol, helping to remove it from the body, reducing cholesterol in the body.
Cholesterol facts - diet & lifestyle
For all the warnings we hear about it, cholesterol is actually a naturally occurring substance that our bodies need to function properly.
The problem comes when we have too much of it. Or more specifically, too much of the wrong kind.
Cholesterol is produced by our liver. Among other things it helps keep all the body’s cells in good working order.
In a person with the right levels of ‘good’ cholesterol, known as HDL cholesterol, it is circulated round the body in the bloodstream and any excess taken back into the liver to be broken down harmlessly.
But with too much bad cholesterol, or LDL cholesterol, fatty deposits can form on the walls of our arteries and blood vessels, forcing the heart to work harder and increasing our risk of coronary heart disease.
Levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol tend to rise when we eat too much fat. Particularly saturated fat.
That’s why we’re advised to cut down on fatty meat, pastries, sweets and to up our intake of fresh veg, fruit, wholegrains and fish, all of which help reduce the amount of LDL inside us.
Cholesterol facts - diet & lifestyle
A cholesterol check is a straightforward process, taken with a finger prick sample of your blood, or from a larger sample which will be sent off to a laboratory.
The results of your test will be in ‘millimolls’ (mmol/l) per litre of blood. The national average (in England) for men is 5.5 and for women it is 5.6.
Occasionally you might have heard about people who have a high cholesterol level despite being careful about their diet and exercising properly.
This usually happens when they have ‘inherited’ high cholesterol from one of their parents, so even if you’re happy that you’re eating the right things and keeping in shape, it’s worth having a test to be absolutely sure your cholesterol is within limits.
Many people assume as well that high cholesterol and heart disease are largely a male complaint; they’re not. Women can be just as much at risk.
And even if you’re slim, you can still have too much cholesterol in your blood. Body fat and cholesterol are not necessarily linked - although excess weight will, of course, put its own strain on the heart muscle.
Ask your GP to find out more about cholesterol testing and what it can tell you about your health and fitness.
Cholesterol facts - diet & lifestyle
