Benecol Cholesterol Awareness Day

Did your whole family then follow your diet and lifestyle changes?
Well, my daughter Karen was always very health conscious - veggie and organic long before this - and I would have gone organic because of Karen more than anything else. She was the one who got us into juicing.

My son Michael is quite healthy in his eating habits anyway, and the same with my son Paul. They also take a lot of exercise. Because their father died instantly from a heart attack - sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee - they are very aware of having to take care of their health.

I'm always trying to get them to do more though, and I'm trying to persuade Paul to get his cholesterol tested!

Do you think people understand the importance of being tested for high cholesterol?
I really don't think people are getting properly tested, because otherwise the surgeries would be swamped! What we're saying for Cholesterol Awareness Day is that if you've any history of heart attacks or strokes in your family, make sure you get a cholesterol test. I mean, I think everyone should have a test, but if you know it's there in your family medical history you have to make it a priority.

I really believe that people should be familiar with their family health history and I don't think people ask the questions before the older members die off. For example, we are a big family of strokes, my father died of strokes and also two aunts and a grandparent. On Steven's side of the family it always seems to be heart conditions.

My overall attitude to this is that your health is really in the lap of the gods, but there's an awful lot that you can do to help yourself. Information is a great thing to have, and you should do your checks regularly, whether it's a breast exam or cervical cancer check, or whether it's your cholesterol. You should have your annual maintenance - like an MOT.

Is exercise important to you?
Exercise is vital for many things, especially in relation to heart disease and osteoporosis. Not everyone wants to do set exercises or go to the gym, but then walking is one of the best forms of exercise. Just walk to the shops instead of taking the car - anything at all that just gets a bit of movement going.

I used to go to the gym three times a week and also play tennis and that was fantastic. In the gym, I had to find things that I really liked, for example I loved the walking machine and the bicycle - I found one with a fan on the front that kept you cool. But I hated all the rest, the weights and all that kind of stuff. I think you have to find an exercise that you enjoy, whether that's ballroom dancing, playing tennis, swimming - whatever - but exercising has to be fun or you'll never do it. And not that I'm making an excuse, but because I make five programmes a week there just is no time for tennis three times a week. I'm looking forward to going back to that.

How is your cholesterol now?
It's come down, but I would still like it to come down a little bit more. It's dropping all the time and I do get it checked really regularly. I have a slight thyroid problem too and cholesterol is linked to that so it's very important that I keep it in check.

Benecol Cholesterol Awareness Day (18th September 2002) is really to say, listen this is the silent killer. It's not like blood pressure where you'll get a sign. Unless you go and get a test, you don't know what your level is.

Have the information at your fingertips and take your health into your own hands - be prepared.

Visit www.benecol.co.uk