Flora and Flora pro.activ, the world’s number one cholesterol-lowering plant sterol brand, is currently conveying its “Love your Heart” message in Malta with a series of public talks.

With cardiovascular disease being the number one cause of death worldwide, the talks sought to increase awareness of the role a healthy diet and lifestyle can play in helping to maintain heart health and reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Speaking during the second Flora World Heart Day Seminar at Razzett tal-Hbiberija (Park of Friendship), senior cardiac surgeon Alex Manche` stressed the importance of controlling the risk factors and said: “Smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and stress are factors that you can change. Your health is largely in your hands – keep active, eat healthily, lead a peaceful but active life and see your doctor regularly. Eat only good food and only when you are hungry.”

The Flora World Heart Day Seminar was also addressed by Jeremy Ellul who spoke about nutrition and eating healthily to keep a healthy heart. He said: “It is important to eat well and in moderation to prevent excessive weight. Consuming food, which contains polyunsaturated fat and is low in saturated fat together with Omega-3 and Omega 6 oils, helps us to protect the heart and lower the cholesterol in the body. Nowadays the nutritional labelling on food products makes it easier for consumers to make healthier choices.”

The seminar was also addressed by Thomas Agius Vadalà, finance director at M&Z (Marketing) Ltd, who welcomed the well attended gathering and explained the company’s various activities to show how consumers can develop healthy hearts more easily on behalf of Flora and Flora pro.activ. M& Z (Marketing) Ltd are the distributors in Malta for Flora.

Unilever, producer of the Flora and Flora pro.activ brand, has committed itself to put foodstuffs on the market that not only taste very good but also raise the quality of life. “Flora pro.activ is enriched with plant sterols which reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed by the body. Because of this, the Flora pro.activ range is clinically proven to lower cholesterol levels when following a healthy diet,” said David Titman, Flora brand manager, Unilever UK.

At the end of the seminar, participants were able to ask questions and they sampled the Flora pro.activ UHT milk and Flora pro.activ yoghurt mini drinks. They also received a voucher entitling them to a free venous cholesterol test, which is being sponsored by HSE Laboratory Services and St. Philip’s Hospital, Sta Venera.

The next Flora World Heart Seminar, to be held at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity in Valletta, is already fully booked.

Flora is currently holding another campaign in conjunction with Eurosport. Called “Team up for Healthy Hearts”, the campaign encourages physical activities as part of the daily routine. The barcodes from some products in the Flora range can be redeemed for sports gear at Eurosport in Birkirkara and Eurosave in Gozo.