As one of Ireland’s most famous sportsmen, golfer Padraig Harrington is no stranger to challenges. Having won three golf Majors, including two Open Championships, and been part of seven Ryder Cup teams, you’d be right in thinking that he’s one of the country’s most active and successful men.
Like many of us, Padraig assumed that high cholesterol only affected unfit or older people. But then, six years ago, he discovered that his cholesterol level was raised. As a young, fit, world-class sportsman, this came as something of a shock.
Unfortunately, high cholesterol often doesn’t have any obvious symptoms, and is a major risk factor when it comes to the development of coronary heart disease. It therefore makes sense to get your cholesterol levels tested, and if they are elevated, take a few easy steps to do something about it.
Having faced players such as Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Tiger Woods on the golf course, Padraig was ready to tackle his next test: the Flora ProActiv 21-day Challenge. By incorporating Flora ProActiv, which contains plant sterols, into his diet, Padraig was able to dramatically lower his cholesterol. And with just 1.5-2.4g of plant sterols consumed daily, you, like him, could see your cholesterol drop by 7-10 per cent in just 2-3 weeks.*
Over time, Padraig gradually stopped using Flora ProActiv in his diet, resulting in his cholesterol levels creeping up again. Having successfully completed the Flora ProActiv Challenge before, Padraig was keen to do it again when he recently discovered that both he and his wife Caroline had high cholesterol.
With two young children to look after, Padraig and Caroline want to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible, which is why being aware of their cholesterol levels is so important to both of them. In fact, by incorporating Flora ProActiv spreads and yoghurt drinks into his daily diet, Padraig has managed to lower his cholesterol from 5.62 to a much healthier 4.3 *.
By taking a few simple steps, such as adopting a healthy lifestyle, following a balanced diet and incorporating Flora ProActiv into your diet, you too could keep your cholesterol levels in check. Isn't it time you followed Padraig's example and rose to the challenge? Start your 21 Day Challenge today at floraproactiv.ie
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in the body. It plays a vital role in how every cell works, but having too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk factor of coronary heart disease. You should make sure to take care of all of these risk factors.
There are two main types of cholesterol that are particularly important:
- Low-Density Lipoprotein LDL Cholesterol: this is often called "bad" cholesterol. To maintain a healthy heart, try to keep 'bad' cholesterol at under 3mmol/L for healthy adults, and under 2mmol/L for those at high risk
- High-Density Lipoprotein HDL Cholesterol: this is often called "good" cholesterol. This returns cholesterol to the liver, where it is eliminated. Try to maintain high levels of 'good' cholesterol.
What are plant sterols?
Plant sterols are found naturally in foods from vegetable sources, like vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, grains, fruits and vegetables. However, these are found in minute quantities and you would need to eat a substantial amount of these foods to get the required amount of plant sterols to help you lower your cholesterol.
Plant sterols help to actively filter cholesterol uptake from the gut by partially blocking the absorption of it, which leads to significantly lowering the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
A daily consumption of 1.5 to 2.4g plant sterols can help you lower your cholesterol levels in just two to three weeks, when consumed as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Seven tips for a cholesterol lowering diet:
Choose low-fat dairy foods: skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, low-fat yoghurt and reduced-fat cheese. Use low-fat yoghurt or fromage frais instead of cream.
Opt for fish and poultry: Swap out fatty meat products, which can be high in saturated fats. Try substituting some meat with beans or lentils – Include Oily Fish in Your Diet: Try herring, mackerel, salmon or trout, once or twice a week.
Snack on nuts and seeds: Make up your own seed, nut and dried fruit mix for a healthy snack at your finger tips.
Get your five-a-day: Eat a mix of fruits and vegetables to get the vitamins, minerals and fibre you need.
Get plenty of fibre in your diet: Swap white bread, pasta and rice for brown and wholegrain varieties. Oats, vegetables, fruits and pulses, such as lentils, are also good sources of fibre.
Use seed or nut oils and spreads: Oils from seeds and nuts are rich in unsaturated fats. Switch from butter to a good quality spread, such as Flora ProActiv, which is made from a mixture of seed oils.
Eat no more than 6g of salt a day: Experiment with herbs and spices to replace salt in cooking and at the table. Avoid salty snacks and limit processed foods, as these tend to be high in bad fats, which can raise cholesterol.
* Flora ProActiv contains plant sterols. Plant sterols have been shown to lower blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. Consuming 1.5-2.4g of plant sterols per day can lower cholesterol by 7-10 per cent in 2-3 weeks when consumed as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle with sufficient fruit and vegetables. Individual results may vary.
