The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA), an organisation specialising in the realm of healthcare for over four decades, has recently launched its fifth cookbook as part of the renowned Cooking from the Heart series.
In collaboration with Pharma Dynamics, the latest edition, known as the DASH diet edition, was created to help heart health in South Africa.
The HSFSA operates on four key pillars. The Nutrition Science Team spearheads initiatives like the Heart Mark Endorsement Programme and heart-healthy cookbooks, while the Health Promotion Team engages directly with communities through health talks and risk assessments.
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Advocacy, the third pillar, sees the HSFSA involved in policy-driven initiatives, influencing key policies such as salt legislation, sugar-sweetened beverage tax and tobacco sin tax. Lastly, the Public Relations pillar handles media interactions, ensuring effective communication of their endeavours.
The cookbook series, available for free on their website, aims to make healthy eating accessible to all. The DASH diet edition, standing for Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension, focuses on managing and preventing high blood pressure.
The recipes, adapted from typical South African dishes, prioritise increased fibre intake while reducing calories, sugar, salt, saturated fat and cholesterol.
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Emphasising foods rich in protein, fibre, potassium, magnesium and calcium, the DASH diet advocates for a balanced and heart-healthy approach. Vegetables, fruits, beans, unsalted nuts, whole grains, lean red meat and low-fat dairy form the core of this dietary approach.
Backed by South African and international hypertension guidelines, the DASH diet has consistently proven effective in lowering blood pressure, with recent studies linking it to a significant decrease in cardiovascular diseases by up to 10%.
The importance of lifestyle modifications in managing hypertension cannot be overstated. Regular physical activity, limiting alcohol intake and abstaining from smoking or vaping are crucial factors.
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The HSFSA’s community-based events highlight these aspects, emphasising that no amount of alcohol is deemed beneficial for heart health and dispelling misconceptions about vaping.
With initiatives like the Cooking from the Heart series and ongoing public education, the HSFSA strives to make substantial strides in reducing risk factors such as high blood pressure.
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Picture: Supplied