What are vitamins?
Vitamins are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly. There are two types of vitamin: fat-soluble vitamins which are found mainly in fatty foods such as animal fats (including butter and lard), vegetable oils, dairy foods, liver and oily fish; and water-soluble vitamins which are not stored in the body and are found in fruit, vegetables and grains. The water-soluble vitamins are particularly important for keeping your heart healthy.
Heart-healthy vitamins
A healthy, balanced diet containing at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day will help to lower your level of homocysteine - a chemical compound that is linked to heart disease - and keep it within the ideal range.
Fruits and vegetables are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. They're also low in fat and calories which makes them excellent for snacking or as part of any meal.
Top tips for eating more fruit & vegetables
- Add chopped fresh or dried fruit to your breakfast cereal for extra crunch and flavour
- Munch on fruit or vegetable sticks as a between-meal snack
- Use fresh fruit to make a delicious smoothie
- Have a bowl of salad with a meal
Use fruit or vegetables to add taste and variety to sandwiches, such as:
- Tuna and cucumber
- Cottage cheese with pineapple or chopped peppers
- Grated low-fat cheese with celery and tomato
- Houmous with grated carrot
- Lean chicken breast with lettuce, cucumber and tomato
- Brighten up rice or pasta salads with chopped vegetables or fruit
- Try a bowl of home-made vegetable soup, with a selection of tasty vegetables such as peppers, sweet corn and tomatoes
- Use vegetables such as carrots, leeks and parsnips to bulk out casseroles, stews or soups
- For a crunchy texture add chopped vegetables (such as onions, peppers, or sweet corn) to a dish
- Experiment and treat yourself to more exotic fruits such as kiwi or mango, instead of sweets
Foods rich in B6, B12 & folic acid
Some studies suggest that vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid may help keep your heart healthy as part of a balanced diet. Fortified breakfast cereals, fish including salmon and tuna, meats such as pork and chicken, bananas, beans and peanut butter, and many vegetables all contain vitamin B6.
Vitamin B12 can be found in foods such as liver, shellfish, beef, haddock, salmon, milk, yogurt and eggs. Leaf vegetables such as spinach and greens, dried beans and peas, fortified cereal products, and certain other fruits and vegetables are rich sources of folic acid, as is liver.
Flora/Becel delivers
Flora/Becel spreads contain vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid. They are also:
- Made from a blend of seed oils rich in Omega 3 & 6
- High in essential polyunsaturates
- Lower in saturated fats than butter
- Rich in folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12, and contain vitamins A, D and E.
Whether it's our range of spreads, Omega 3 plus or Flora pro.activ products, we'll help you choose the one that's right for you.
