Make your sandwich healthier and we're certain you'll enjoy it more
25% of UK vote cheese sandwiches as their ultimate favourite...but could Brits be compromising their health when it comes to their choice of sandwich by choosing fillings that are high in saturated fats.
Evidence suggests that eating too much saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes .. so why are we still not putting our health first?
A new campaign from Lo-Col, the cholesterol lowering cheese alternative, encourages people to think about their heart health when packing their lunchbox, Azmina Govindji , Dietitian, explains: “By making small changes you can really make a difference to your heart health so why not start with your sandwich filler? I would encourage everyone this sandwich week to think about the changes they can make to help turn their sandwich into a much healthier alternative.”
Despite all the evidence, 70% of the UK aged over 35, still admit to having no idea what a healthy cholesterol reading is; but when questioned, nearly three quarters are sure they would prefer to keep their cholesterol in check through diet and exercise as opposed to medication.
Azmina’s tips on making your sandwich healthier
Opt for lower saturated fat dairy spreads or use only a scraping of butter, and avoid creamy dressings.
Choose sandwich fillings that are lower in saturated fats such as poultry, lower saturated fat cheese or dressing alternatives, fish and roasted vegetables.
Choosing foods that provide over 1.5 grams of plant sterols daily, for example Lo Col Cholesterol lowering cheese alternative, can actively reduce blood cholesterol by 7 to 10 % within 2 to 3 weeks when eaten with other sources (Ref below)
Choose whole-grain bread over white bread and always add salad to your filling.
Eat fish two times a week and make one of them oily – oily fish contains essential omega 3’s fatty acids. Canned salmon has its omega 3 intact, whereas canned tuna has been stripped of its omega 3 content.
Cut out the salt and choose lower salt fillings.
Tagged in Healthy eating