Looking after yourself, including your cholesterol level and heart health, is particularly important as we age. There are a number of things that can impact your heart health other than your cholesterol. Being overweight can put a strain on your heart and your overall health. To maintain a healthy heart, you should also be careful to:

• Monitor blood pressure
• Avoid prolonged stress
• Do not smoke.
• Be physically active - get some regular exercise 

A healthy lifestyle and balanced diet are important for a long and healthy life.

The Heart Foundation has some specific tips on healthy eating and drinking including¹;

• Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and grain based foods such as wholegrain or wholemeal bread, pasta, rice, noodles and grains.
• Select lean meats, skinless poultry, fish and choose reduced or low fat dairy products. Choose polyunsaturated or monounsaturated oils and fats.
• Also include nuts, seeds and legumes (dried peas, dried beans and lentils)

Following these tips can help your diet be low in saturated fat and higher in the 'good fats' such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats which can help you maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. 

Some recent research reports have highlighted the beneficial role of dairy foods for a healthy heart - for more information visit Dairy Australia www.dairyaustralia.com.au and have a look at their Heart Health section and Cardiovascular Health Fact Sheet. Dairy foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese are an important source of essential nutrients, including protein and calcium. It is recommended to choose low or reduced fat dairy products, and to aim for three serves every day ².

Along with the diet for lowering cholesterol try a simple change; swap your regular milk for HeartActive^® to get the cholesterol lowering benefits of plant sterols. Browse our collection of delicious HeartActive^® recipe ideas today.

For some tips on how to help lower cholesterol and support heart health see if you can do our 10 step challenge.