Irene Van Dyk encourages NZers to improve hearts

18th June 2006

Irene Van Dyk encourages New Zealanders to improve heart health

Netball champion Irene Van Dyk and her husband Christie have teamed up with Flora pro-activ to help raise awareness that cholesterol affects at least one in every two New Zealand adults1.

Cholesterol is a concern close to the hearts of the Van Dyks after the couple was recently tested and Irene was found to have an above recommended cholesterol level2 despite her age, level of fitness and healthy lifestyle.

“People often presume that cholesterol is only a concern if you are unfit or overweight and being a netball athlete I never thought I would be affected. Fitness and healthy eating have been central to my sporting career over the years so it was a real shock to the system to find out my cholesterol levels were above recommended levels,” Irene says.

Widely regarded as the best goal shooter in the world and named Sportswoman of the Year in the 2004 Halberg awards, Irene is one of thousands of New Zealanders affected by cholesterol.

“If you aren’t affected by cholesterol, odds are the person next to you is – that’s pretty frightening and something that Christie and I, through example, hope to show people they can do something about through simple lifestyle changes.”

Flora pro-activ has invited Irene to participate in the 3-Week Challenge to lower her cholesterol level. To complete the Challenge Irene must follow a healthy eating plan, eat 25g of Flora pro-activ daily and take part in regular exercise.

Flora pro-activ is a plant sterol enriched spread. The natural plant sterols in Flora pro-activ reduce the absorption of cholesterol from the gut. Plant sterol enriched spreads are scientifically proven to reduce cholesterol absorption 3. Many scientific studies on the effects of plant sterol spreads on cholesterol have been conducted 4, including studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin 5 using Flora pro-activ.

“My message to New Zealanders is to have your cholesterol tested now; it’s a simple test that allows you to take charge of your heart health. If you find out you’re affected by cholesterol then consider taking the Flora pro-activ 3-Week Challenge yourself,” says Irene.

Flora pro-activ has the Heart Foundation Tick because it meets the Tick Programme’s strict nutrition standards for edible oil spreads that limit saturated fat, trans fat and salt.

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ENDS

Notes to editors:
(1) Lipid Guidelines developed by The National Heart Foundation (1996) recommend a total cholesterol of 3.0 mmo/L – 5.0 mmol/L and 31% of New Zealanders achieved this guideline. Source: Russell DG, Parnell WR, Wilson NC, et al. New Zealand food: New Zealand people. Key results of the 1997 National Nutrition Survey. Ministry of Health, Wellington, 1999
(2) The current recommended cholesterol levels of the New Zealand Heart Foundation are: less than 4 mmol/L for total cholesterol (TC), less than 2.5 mmol/L for LDL cholesterol, greater than 1 mmol/L for HDL cholesterol, less than 4.5 mmol/L for TC/HDL ration and less than 1.7 mmol/L for triglycerides. Source: The Assessment and Management of Cardiovascular Risk, Heart Foundation New Zealand, 2003.
(3) Jones PJ et al. JLipid Res 2000;41:697-705
(4) Law M. BMJ 2000;320:861-4
(5) Cleghorn CL et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 2003;57:170-6

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