In Ireland, about 60% of people over the age of 50 years has high cholesterol levels. However, heart attacks are not just for older people. More than half of all heart attacks in men and about one third of heart attacks in women happen at younger than 65 years old. 

Two of the most important things to understand when it comes to risk of heart attacks and stoke are;

1. How high is your cholesterol?
2. How long have you had high cholesterol levels?

Thankfully, reducing your total cholesterol by 1 mmol/L (e.g. cholesterol of 6 to 5) is associated with a 33% reduction in death from coronary heart disease (in those aged 50–69 years).

A cholesterol lowering diet has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol by 12% (at less than 50% compliance to the diet) but if you’re motivated and compliance is at greater than 90%, LDL cholesterol could be reduced by 21%.

Sign up to my course today if you want to;

• Hear the evidence: Knowing what foods to eat more of, and what foods to eat less of, is fundamental in adapting your meals to decrease your cholesterol levels.

• Receive targets: It’s important to know what your cholesterol levels should be, but also be given science-backed data on how much a partiuclar food can lower your choelsterol by and in what portion you need to eat it.

• Practical application: Knowing what to include is one thing, receiving realistic suggestions on how to implement these changes regularly is another! Orla will provide examples of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack ideas which are built on cholesterol lowering foods.

• No sugar coating: Orla does not use scare tactics, but will explain in black and white what needs to be done and why.