Preventative cardiologist Dr Annabelle Volgman, Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of the Rush Heart Center for Women at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, said:
- “Oatmeal is an example of a cardioprotective food that can help lower your cholesterol in conjunction with a heart healthy lifestyle …”
More from a Release dated November 17, sourced from Quaker Oats:
Quaker Celebrates 25 Years of Clinical Proof
CHICAGO, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ — When it comes to cholesterol management, Quaker Oatmeal has withstood the test of time, and the test of science. Quaker has more than 25 years of clinical proof that the soluble fiber in oatmeal can help lower cholesterol as part of a heart healthy diet.
As the practice of preventative cardiology emerges, more patients are learning about the importance of a heart healthy diet and lifestyle for maintaining a healthier heart.
“Oatmeal is an example of a cardioprotective food that can help lower your cholesterol in conjunction with a heart healthy lifestyle,” says preventative cardiologist Dr. Annabelle Volgman, associate professor of medicine and medical director of the Rush Heart Center for Women at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “Approximately 80 percent of heart attacks and strokes are preventable if you help monitor the major risk factors — including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history, and obesity — with your doctor.”
Heart Disease S.O.S.
Volgman advocates the importance of a food-first approach to heart health, and recommends people put a greater emphasis on monitoring their diet and lifestyle. She suggests three easy tips to eating a more heart healthy diet that include incorporating Salmon, Oatmeal and Sterols — or S.O.S. — before heart disease distress signs arise.
– Salmon: Rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which have been shown to help reduce the risk of heart attack and sudden death from heart arrhythmias.
– Oatmeal: The soluble fiber in oatmeal soaks up some of the cholesterol like a sponge and removes it from the body. Whether old fashioned, quick, instant or steel cut, oatmeal is always a whole grain and all forms provide cholesterol-lowering benefits.
– Sterols: Plant phytosterols may help lower LDL cholesterol levels by blocking its absorption. Sterols are present naturally in small quantities in some vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and legumes. Foods and beverages fortified with sterols are also available.
Experts believe the soluble fiber in oatmeal, also known as beta glucan, is what can help reduce blood cholesterol levels. Beta glucan actively removes cholesterol from the body by binding with some of the cholesterol in the digestive tract in much the same way a sponge soaks up water. The cholesterol is then removed from the body naturally.
“As a leader in health and nutrition, Quaker is committed to helping educate and encourage people to take charge of their heart health through diet and lifestyle,” said Shelley Haus, director of marketing for Quaker’s breakfast portfolio. “The people who have successfully lowered their cholesterol through the help of Quaker Oatmeal clearly demonstrate the power of Quaker Oats as a proven heart health partner.”
Quaker offers a variety of heart healthy oatmeal options available in grocery stores and super stores nationwide, including: Quaker Old Fashioned Oats, Quaker Quick Oats, Quaker Steel Cut Oats, Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal, and Quaker Oatmeal to Go.
For more information, visit http://www.QuakerLivingProof.com.
About Quaker Oatmeal
In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted the first food-specific health claim to Quaker Oats for soluble fiber in oatmeal and its heart-health benefits. The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world’s largest consumer packaged good companies. For more information, please visit http://www.quakeroatmeal.com.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) is one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, with 2007 annual revenues of more than $39 billion. The company employs approximately 185,000 people worldwide, and its products are sold in approximately 200 countries. Its principal businesses include: Frito-Lay snacks, Pepsi-Cola beverages, Gatorade sports drinks, Tropicana juices and Quaker foods. The PepsiCo portfolio includes 17 brands that generate $1 billion or more each in annual retail sales. PepsiCo’s commitment to sustainable growth, defined as Performance with Purpose, is focused on generating healthy financial returns while giving back to communities the company serves. This includes meeting consumer needs for a spectrum of convenient foods and beverages, reducing the company’s impact on the environment through water, energy and packaging initiatives, and supporting its employees through a diverse and inclusive culture that recruits and retains world-class talent. PepsiCo is listed on the Dow Jones North America Sustainability Index and the Dow Jones World Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit http://www.pepsico.com.
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