Cholesterol charity HEART UK supports end to carb confusion

MAIDENHEAD, U.K. - July 17, 2015 - PRLog -- HEART UK – The Cholesterol Charity – welcomes today’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s (SACN) report and recommendations regarding carbohydrate intake and health.

HEART UK are particularly pleased to see that this report calls for an improvement in the quality but not the quantity of carbohydrates in the UK diet.

HEART UK Expert Dietetic Adviser, Linda Main said: "Clear and consistent messaging regarding the impact of total and different types of carbohydrates on health is especially welcome in the light of recent mixed messaging to the general public.

"Such clarity can only help bring to an end the confusion faced by consumers every day and help health professionals enforce sound dietary guidance.

"These recommendations are consistent with a Mediterranean way of eating which has been shown to be beneficial in reducing cardiovascular risk. Increasing fibre and reducing free sugars can contribute to the population having healthier BMIs, blood pressures and lipid levels and help prevent type 2 diabetes; all of which are key cardiovascular risk factors.

"What remains to be seen now is how the UK government can act on the advice from SACN to help influence the public’s dietary behaviours, encourage the food industry to produce healthier, appetising food at a price affordable to all and help ensure consistent messaging across all consumer media.

"HEART UK would like to see the government developing an overall food communication strategy with clear, simple and understandable messages that health professionals can get behind.  Such a strategy should not hinge around individual nutrients but focus on healthy eating patterns. Core to this messaging is improving the quality of the diet by reducing saturated fat and sugar sweetened beverages and increasing whole grains"

HEART UK encourages a diet that is low in saturated fat, but rich in whole grains, whole fruits and vegetables, nuts, beans and pulses – all of which contribute to dietary fibre intake and do not contribute free sugars to the diet.

ENDS

Notes:

HEART UK – The Cholesterol Charity – promotes healthy hearts and better lives through expert support, guidance and education for individuals, families and health professionals to help them understand and control cholesterol conditions and other heart risks.

For more information about HEART UK visit: www.heartuk.org.uk

For more information on carbohydrates and cholesterol, including healthy eating advice visit: www.heartuk.org.uk/cholesterol-and-diet

FOR INTEVIEWS AND FURTHER MEDIA ENQUIRES CONTACT:

David Alexander, Calacus PR on 07802 412424 or david.alexander@calacus.com

OR

Becky Williams, Calacus PR on 07710 393700 or becky.williams@calacus.com