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Embargo: 00.01am, Wednesday, 9 December, 2009
Healthy Food A Casualty Of Tight Food Budgets
Australians Urged To Re-Think Health Value Of What They Eat
For less than 50c a day Flora pro-activ can reduce your cholesterol absorption
by up to 15% when also moving to a healthy diet
Tough times have seen shoppers seeking cheaper meal options but they may be forgetting about
their cholesterol and heart health in their efforts to save a few dollars. While some heart-healthy foods
may cost a little more, they give proven health benefits and therefore offer good value. For example,
for less than 50 cents a day Flora pro-activ can reduce your cholesterol absorption by up to 15%
when also moving to a healthy diet.
A re-think of the foods we buy in terms of heart health benefits is required as trends suggest we are
actually buying more unhealthy food. Fast food restaurants selling burgers, fries, pizza and fried
chicken are experiencing growth
i
.
Even the trend towards home cooking seems to be forgetting about
heart heath. Saturated-fat rich butter and cream were among the fastest growing categories in 2008,
while cheese, biscuits, snack foods and cakes were also among categories in growth
ii
. All these foods
are likely to increase cholesterol when eaten in excess.
While unhealthy food might save a few cents now, this is false economy when you consider the cost
of poor heart health in the future. The Heart Foundation says poor diet and high cholesterol are major
preventable risk factors
iii
.Fifty percent of Australian adults have cholesterol over 5.5
iv
and this statistic
has not improved in 20 years
v
.
Dr Andrew Binns, President of the Australian Lifestyle Medicine Association (ALMA) is a strong
advocate of lifestyle change to maintain heart health. “The right diet is absolutely vital for people
affected by cholesterol. Foods high in saturated fat and trans-fat are bad for cholesterol, while plant
sterol-enriched foods are very helpful. Other foods to include for a healthy heart are healthy oils and
spreads, vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and fish. Although some of these heart-healthy foods may
cost a little more, they offer great health value. Plant sterol spreads are a good example: they are
proven to lower cholesterol absorption and recommended for people with cholesterol concerns” he
says.
Media Release
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While many people believe plant sterol spreads are expensive, the plant sterols in just 1 rounded
tablespoon (25g) of Flora pro-activ a day can lower cholesterol absorption by an average of 10
percent in 3 weeks, plus an additional 5 percent when also moving to a healthy diet. Plant sterol
enriched foods are effective in lowering cholesterol absorption and therefore provide excellent cost
benefit.
Accredited Nutritionist for Flora, Brooke Sprott, says managing your cholesterol with Flora pro-activ is
a worthwhile investment in your future heart health. For less than the price of a postage stamp- 50c a
day- you can reduce your cholesterol absorption”.
Other heart-healthy foods people often perceive as expensive are fresh fruit and vegetables. Their
health benefits are well known and a closer inspection of their price per kilogram shows they are
better value than many people realise.
Price per kilogram comparison of fresh fruits and vegetables vs less healthy foods
vi
Supermarket brand baking/roasting potatoes $2/kg vs leading brand take-away French fries
vii
$35/kg
Sweet corn $4.00/kg vs leading brand corn chips $16.30/kg
Red Delicious apples $5/kg vs leading brand chocolate bar with caramel & nougat $36/kg
Healthy foods must take priority in the grocery basket for long term health and wellbeing. Even if they
cost a little more, foods with proven health benefits are worth it.
-- ENDS –
Issued by Publicis Life Brands on behalf of Unilever Australasia.
Background information
i
The two largest players – McDonalds and Yum! Restaurants have reported sales growth in 2009. Australian Food News.
McDonald’s sales growth slows, Australia still strong. Available at URL
owner sees profits soar. Accessed 9 Oct 2009
ii
Nielsen Australia. The Grocery Report 2008. Available at URL
iii
Heart Foundation(Australia). Cardiovascular disease statistics. Available from URL
iv
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). High blood cholesterol. Available at URL
INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE ON DIET COST AND HEART HEALTH AND
LIFESTYLE MEDICINE
To arrange an interview, or for further information, please contact Publicis Life Brands:
Emma Norgrove – emma.norgrove@publicislifebands.com.au, Ph: (02) 9006 2941, M: 0405 507 556
Natasha Ciesielski- natasha.ciesielski@publicislifebrands.com.au Ph: (02) 9006 2943, M: 0407 683 716
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v
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (AIHW) 2004. Heart, stroke and vascular diseases – Australian facts 2004. Available
vi
Food prices from Coles Online: Coles potatoes, sweet corn, Doritos corn chips original 200g, Mars bar 53g. Available at URL
vii
French fries price based on cost of large fries ($2.75 for 130g) from McDonalds menu board price on 22.10.09.
NEWS 
