Is your cholesterol level too high?
Cholesterol levels are leaving Brits feeling a little more than confused, as they try to get more sleep and change their shampoo in order to cut cholesterol.
Misconceptions about cholesterol have led to adults munching garlic, chomping on onions and getting hot under the collar on chillies in a bid to reduce levels of cholesterol, a cause of one of the nation’s biggest killers, heart disease.
The research among 1,900 Britons by Flora pro.activ revealed that 48 per cent have no idea what their cholesterol level is. But others who believe their cholesterol may be high through lifestyle factors are mistakenly resorting to wacky ways to bring it down.
Fourteen per cent of those questioned wrongly think that getting more sleep will reduce their cholesterol number. A total of 45 per cent of adults eat garlic because they think it will reduce cholesterol, 38 per cent onions and 13 per cent fiery chillies, despite little medical proof of these foodstuffs having any effect on cholesterol levels. Nearly one in five wrongly think that becoming vegetarian will reduce cholesterol, while 15 per cent saying getting more fresh air and five per cent even say changing their shampoo or shower gel will affect it.
Furthermore, 73 per cent of Brits wrongly assume that raised cholesterol is a condition of being overweight and 21 per cent say people who are unfit and unhealthy generally have high levels. Eight in 10 of those asked correctly think that cutting down on saturated fats and exercising more can cut cholesterol levels.
It is estimated that six in 10 UK adults suffer from high cholesterol caused by their diet or lifestyle, while a further 120,000 have inherited high cholesterol from a family member. High levels of cholesterol can lead to coronary disease and ultimately fatal heart attacks.
Worryingly, one in five people say they are "not at all concerned" about their cholesterol level, despite a third being told by their doctor that it is too high. Only one in five Brits are concerned about heart disease; compared to 44 per cent who are concerned about various forms of cancer. This is despite raised cholesterol being one of the key causes of heart disease; the nation’s biggest killer.
Two in three people confessed they would need a serious shock to consider making healthy changes to their diet and lifestyle. Two in three say suffering a heart attack would kick-start a healthier lifestyle, while six in 10 said piling on the pounds would prompt them to drop bad habits. Nearly one in five said seeing friends and family starting to take their own health more seriously would spur them to live a healthier lifestyle.
In a three-week challenge organised by Flora pro.activ in Rutland, England's smallest county, eight in 10 residents who took part cut average cholesterol levels by altering diets and lifestyles and are now encouraging others round the country to follow suit.
Janet Whitfield, 60, who took part the challenge, said: "I had no clue what my cholesterol number was – cholesterol is one of those things that isn’t talked about. When I found out it was raised I was shocked. I thought the challenge would be time consuming and hard work, but I was surprised that simple changes to diet and lifestyle make a big difference. Now my cholesterol level has been reduced I will continue with the programme to maintain a healthy heart.”
Dietician Jacqui Morrell, who advised the community on how to adapt their diets during the challenge, said: "Cutting back on saturated fats, introducing cholesterol lowering foods into your diet and being more active is easier than people think and fun if you can do it together. A healthy community is a strong community and we hope Rutland will inspire the nation to take up the Flora pro.activ cholesterol challenge."
Tagged in Health Cholesterol