Today is World Heart Day and heart health is something that I have always been passionate about, and from my two spells of working as an Assistant Manager at Holland and Barrett, it is something which I have had a lot of training on due to the fact that it’s the ailment most of the customers come in asking advice on, so regular training is made essential, as it’s a condition that so many people of different ages suffer from. It’s a myth that heart problems only affects the older community. Rising levels of obesity, diabetes and the inherited health condition Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (a condition that affects more than 120,000 people in the UK) are responsible for raised cholesterol in younger people which means preventative measures are more important than ever.

The good news is now with more awareness and health food stores opening up all over the country, taking measures to help lower your cholesterol is now a lot easier. These measures include giving up smoking, managing your alcohol intake, being more physically active and eating a diet with plenty of cholesterol busting superfoods.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid and is vital in order for the body to function normally. It is mainly made by the liver but can also be found in some foods that we eat. Having an excessively high level of lipids in your blood (hyperlipidemia) can have a detrimental effect on your health.

I was recently sent a Heart Healthy Kit in collaboration with Heart UK and Herbalife

The kit includes heart friendly ingredients such as oats, fresh dates and Beta heart, which is a new product designed to help lower or maintain blood cholesterol.

The vanilla-flavoured powder contains the key ingredient Oatwell oat beta-glucan. Oat beta-glucan has been shown to reduce/maintain blood cholesterol. Beta-glucans effect on blood cholesterol has been proven in more than 55 clinical trials. The powder is easy to incorporate into your lifestyle, simply add 1 or 2 scoops per day to water, fruit juice or to a smoothie like I have.

Recipe

250ml unsweetened almond milk

1 scoop Beta-glucan

2 dates, chopped

1 frozen banana

3 tbsp. Mornflake superfast oats

Simply add all the ingredients to a nutribullet or blender and blend until smooth. This makes a delicious creamy smoothie and the dates add natural sweetness.

I also used the ingredients to make a delicious autumnal porridge. Simply make up your porridge as normal then mix in 2 chopped dates and  top with fresh fig, strawberries and pomegranate.

For more information on heart health visit, World Heart Federation and for Heart UK approved eating plans and advice visit, Heart UK Low-fat eating plan