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Pam Stauffer 952-742-6080 pam_stauffer@cargill.com |
Kroger's Active Lifestyle Breads join the growing list of heart-health promoting products with CoroWise™ plant sterols
MINNEAPOLIS - September 22, 2008 - Consumers now have one more easy and delicious way to help lower their LDL cholesterol. A natural ingredient from Cargill, called CoroWise™ Naturally Sourced Cholesterol Reducer™ brand of plant sterols is now available in Kroger Active Lifestyle™ Honey Oat and Whole Grain bread and 100% Whole Wheat Bread. This follows the successful 2007 launch of Kroger’s Active Lifestyle™ fat-free milk with CoroWise™ cholesterol reducers.
“Plant sterols, also called phytosterols, are found in plants,” said Rebecca S. Reeves, DrPH, RD, FADA. “Because plant sterols are structurally similar to cholesterol molecules, they work to help block cholesterol absorption into the bloodstream and effectively help eliminate cholesterol from the body. This ends up lowering the amount of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood.”
Kroger Active Lifestyle™ breads will be available in 6 varieties including Honey Oat with Whole Grain, 100% Whole Wheat, Multigrain with Brown Rice, 5 Seed Whole Grain, Whole Grain White, Whole Grain High Fiber with CoroWise™ cholesterol reducers. The breads will be available at select locations in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia and Virginia.
“The availability of CoroWise™ plant sterols in Kroger Active Lifestyle™ bread makes it easier than ever to enjoy heart-healthy food in any meal of the day. Whether you use it in toast or sandwiches, it can help keep your arteries clear and your heart strong,” said Dr. Reeves, who adds that diet and exercise are also important to cardiovascular health.
Plant sterols have been investigated in many human clinical studies with no known adverse effects. These studies suggest that plant sterols can help lower “bad” (LDL) cholesterol in the range of 8 to 15 percent. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, foods that meet nutritional eligibility requirements for health claims and contain at least 0.4 grams per serving of plant sterols, consumed twice a day with meals (for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 grams), as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.
“The typical American diet does not include enough plant sterols to have a significant impact on cholesterol levels,” said Dr. Reeves. “You need to supplement your diet to achieve the maximum cholesterol-lowering benefit from plant sterols. When you choose foods with the CoroWise™ Naturally Sourced Cholesterol Reducer™ plant sterol brand logo on the label, you’ll be doing your heart a favor.”
For the past 30 years, Dr. Reeves has conducted clinical trials in nutrition and behavioral medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. She has served as the Speaker of the House of Delegates of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and has participated as a faculty member with the ADA Commission on Dietetic Registration Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management workshops. In 2001, she founded the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group of the ADA. Dr. Reeves served as president of the ADA in 2005.
For more information on CoroWise™ plant sterols visit www.corowise.com.
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Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 158,000 employees in 66 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For more information, visit http://www.cargill.com.
Kroger, one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains, is honored to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2008. The Company’s more than 320,000 associates serve customers in 2,474 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry’s , King Soopers, Smith’s, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger associates also serve in 778 convenience stores, 392 fine jewelry stores and 723 supermarket fuel centers the Company operates. The Company also operates 41 food processing plants in the U.S. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local schools and grassroots organizations in the communities it serves. For more information about the company, visit www.kroger.com.