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Why it's your heart that matters this Valentine's Day

Why it's your heart that matters this Valentine's Day

HEART UK launches “Don’t forget your one a week” education campaign

This Valentine’s Day, will your loved one be one of the 189* people to suffer a heart attack?  Every seven minutes, someone somewhere in the UK will have a heart attack,* so this Valentine’s Day, leading heart charity HEART UK is urging people to think about the health of their own heart, as well as thinking about their loved ones.

The charity is launching a health education campaign in partnership with leading brand John West called “Don’t Forget Your One a Week” to encourage people to include one portion of oily fish in their weekly routine as part of their overall approach to healthy living.

Linda Main, HEART UK’s Dietetic Advisor, says: “Oily fish is the richest source of long chain Omega-3 fats which are needed for a healthy heart and circulation. 

Public health experts recommend that adults eat one portion of oily fish each week (140g) ** but we know that average UK consumption is well below the recommended guideline at just 10g per adult per day.  Research also suggests that a resounding 96% of adults don’t know what the recommended weekly amount of the long chain Omega-3’s is.  This is in contrast to the 5-a-day message which is well known.

HEART UK is therefore delighted to be working in partnership with John West and have added our product approval to their range of oily fish.  Together, we hope to get the UK eating more of this versatile, tasty and nutritious product.”

From 14th February, both organisations will step up their campaign messaging with dedicated pages on www.john-west.co.uk and www.heartuk.org.uk providing additional information about the importance of Omega-3, as well as recipes using oily fish products.  In addition, social media channels will continuously communicate the “one a week” message, with online competitions to encourage people to get involved.   

And from May this year, the “HEART UK approved” logo and a “Don’t forget your one a week” message will start appearing in supermarkets on John West’s entire oily fish range - salmon, mackerel, sardine, sild, kippers, herring and skippers.

John West Marketing Director Jon Burton says: “Eating one portion of oily fish once a week is such a simple and easy change to make, but we know that many people are put off because they don’t have the knowledge or skills to prepare it.   “Don’t forget your one a week” will demonstrate how versatile oily fish is and how easy it is to get heart healthy Omega-3 into your diet.”   

ENDS

NOTES to editors

All stats sourced from https://heartuk.org.uk/press/press-kit/key-facts-figuresunless otherwise stated

*https://www.bhf.org.uk/publications/statistics/cvd-stats-2015

** From Plate to Guide: what, why and how for the eatwell model (page 34) 

UK dietary recommendations are for adults to consume two portions of fish per week (2x140g) one of which should be oily. This should provide the equivalent of 450mg of the long chain omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA per day which is the UK recommended amount. 

HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity - promotes healthy hearts and better lives through expert support, guidance and education for individuals, families and health professionals to help them understand and control cholesterol conditions and other heart risks.

For more information about HEART UK visit: www.heartuk.org.uk / Twitter / Facebook

Registered Charity Number 1003904

www.john-west.co.uk

We are on Twitter - follow us here:  @johnwest_uk

We are on Facebook as @johnwestuk

For more information contact Sam Westcott – sam.westcott@gmail.com / 07585 909541

ENDS

Notes:

HEART UK- The Cholesterol Charity- promotes healthy hearts and better lives through expert support, guidance and education for individuals, families and health professionals to help them understand and control cholesterol conditions and other heart risks.

For more information about HEART UK visit: www.heartuk.org.uk

FOR INTERVIEWS AND FURTHER MEDIA ENQUIRES CONTACT:

Jules Payne 07920 804905