The exercise aims to have thousands of South Africans' cholesterol levels tested for free as part of the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA's annual Heart Month campaign.
Flora's Test the Nation finger-prick tests will be carried out at 41 participating Pick `n Pay stores countrywide between 9am and 5pm at testing booths manned by registered nurses. Results will be available within minutes and initial advice will be provided on-site to manage candidates' cholesterol if it is found to be high.
Shân Biesman-Simons, director of Nutrition at the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA explains, “High cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease, which include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of physical exercise and obesity. The higher the cholesterol level, the higher the risk of heart disease. The sad truth is that most sufferers are not even aware they have this potentially life threatening heart risk factor.”
She said an average of 195 South Africans - or 13 minibus loads - die every day of some form of heart disease. Actuarial projections suggest that cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases will have increased by 2010, with a 41% increase in premature heart-related deaths expected between 2007 and 2030.
“Yet up to 80% of heart disease and stroke could be prevented by setting up healthy habits for life including a good diet, exercise and avoiding smoking,” she said.
Biesman-Simons said the Heart and Stroke Foundation's mission was to make people more aware of cardiovascular disease and it believed an initiative like Flora Test the Nation was invaluable in getting people to know their cholesterol number.
“In the fight against cardiovascular disease, cholesterol is one important, modifiable number and blood pressure another. Only once people know their cholesterol number and are more educated about acceptable levels, can they make informed lifestyle choices to ensure they are in line with these healthy recommendations,” she said.
Sue Wilson, registered nurse and director of Patient Focus Africa, said the finger prick cholesterol test to be carried out on the Flora Test the Nation Day is a basic screening tool that gives an indication of the total cholesterol level, (includes: high-density lipo-protein or HDL-cholesterol often known as good cholesterol and low-density lipo-protein, LDL or bad cholesterol).
“Diet plays a vital role in controlling blood cholesterol levels. If the diet contains a lot of saturated fat, which is found in animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy products, it raises the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol in your blood. There are specific dietary strategies that have been scientifically proven to lower cholesterol, in particular, changing the type of fat used and including plant sterols. These plant sterols are an active ingredient in Flora pro-activ. Adding soluble fibre and soy to your eating plan can also be useful,” she said.
She said by replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat such as seed and vegetable oils like sunflower oil, one can not only lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol level in the blood, but also raise the good, which carries cholesterol away from the liver and into the blood stream.
According to the South African cholesterol guidelines, published in February 2000, acceptable cholesterol levels are those with a total cholesterol less than or equal to 5mmol/L.
Flora Nutrition and health manger Christelle De Witt states, “Flora pro-activ has been clinically proven as a safe and effective way to reduce cholesterol by up to 15% in just three weeks, when combined with a move to a healthy diet and lifestyle. It contains plant sterols naturally found in vegetable oils, fruits and vegetables and these help to reduce cholesterol in the body by blocking its absorption into the bloodstream from the gut.”
To qualify for a free test valued at R35 on the Flora Test the Nation Day, consumers simply need to purchase a tub of Flora margarine at a Pick `n Pay store and present the tub or till slip at the special testing booths.
