Unilever Unveils Promise Activ(TM) SuperShots(TM), the First Mini Drink With Cholesterol-Lowering Natural Plant Sterols
10 Juli 2007 - 4:51PM
PR Newswire (US)
Over 140 Clinical Studies Have Shown Natural Plant Sterols Can
Significantly Lower LDL Cholesterol ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., July 10
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nearly 76 million Americans are living
with high or elevated LDL, otherwise known as "bad" cholesterol,
and many others are concerned about their cholesterol levels.
Helping in the fight to lower the risk factors for heart disease,
Unilever has developed Promise activ(TM) SuperShots(TM) -- the
first mini- drink with added natural plant sterols, ingredients
that are clinically proven to help actively remove cholesterol as
part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Promise
activ(TM) SuperShots(TM) contains two grams of plant sterols per
serving in a convenient mini-drink - giving consumers an easy way
to get natural plant sterols for effective cholesterol reduction.
The mini-drink also contains Heart Health Essentials(TM) Omega 3
alpha linolenic acid and Omega 6- and it is a good source of
vitamin E. Natural plant sterols are one of the proven dietary
methods for cholesterol reduction that are accepted by authorities
such as the National Cholesterol Education Program and the FDA.
Over 140 clinical studies have shown natural plant sterols can
significantly lower LDL cholesterol. Natural plant sterols occur in
many foods but at low levels. It would take about 100 pounds of
fruits, vegetables and nuts to get two grams of natural plant
sterols. Promise activ(TM) SuperShots(TM) is a convenient way for
consumers to easily get two grams of natural plant sterols per
serving. "Most Americans are not at optimal levels of cholesterol,"
said Lori Mosca, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., Director of Preventive
Cardiology at New York- Presbyterian Hospital and author of Heart
to Heart. "The good news is, we can better manage our levels
through a comprehensive lifestyle approach that includes good
nutrition and novel approaches to cholesterol reduction. One way
that people can lower their cholesterol levels naturally is through
using foods that are rich in natural plant sterols. Plant sterols
are recommended as a therapeutic dietary option by the expert panel
that established national cholesterol management guidelines."
Promise activ(TM) SuperShots(TM) is a one-of-a-kind, great tasting,
powerful drink with fruit and yogurt. It comes in three flavors:
strawberry, peach, and raspberry. Plant sterol-containing foods
should be used twice a day with meals. Since the 1950s, nearly 600
studies have demonstrated the cholesterol- lowering, safety and
mechanism of action of plant sterols. Natural plant sterols
actively help block the absorption of cholesterol from the foods
eaten as well as the cholesterol made naturally by the body(1).
Lowering the amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream can decrease
a person's chances of developing heart disease(2). For example, a
10% reduction in cholesterol can cut a 40-year-old man's incidence
of heart disease by about 50%(3). "Promise activ(TM) SuperShots(TM)
provide two grams of plant sterols in each three-ounce drink. Plant
sterols can help reduce LDL cholesterol for most people, when used
daily as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol," said
Douglas Balentine, Director of Nutrition and Health at Unilever
North America. "This new product innovation is an example of
Unilever's commitment to helping people maintain a healthy heart
and to stay healthy for longer." Promise has been developing its
expertise in heart health and cholesterol for the last 40 years,
and its portfolio of products includes Promise(R) Buttery Spread
and Take Control(R) Spread in the United States, and Flora(R) and
Becel(R) in Europe. Heart health and cholesterol management
information and educational materials can be found at
http://www.promisehealthyheart.com/. "Promise activ(TM)
SuperShots(TM) represent a significant expansion of the Promise
brand in the United States," explained Eric Berman, Brand Director,
Promise. "Our mission is to deliver delicious foods that can aid in
the overall improvement of heart health. We're particularly excited
with this latest innovation as it represents a 'first' not only for
the Promise brand, but for the American marketplace as well."
Promise activ(TM) SuperShots(TM) will be available in retail
grocery stores in the dairy aisle beginning in June l 2007, priced
at approximately $3.99 for a pack of four. About Plant Sterols
Foods containing at least 0.4 grams per serving of plant sterols
eaten 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. A single serving of this
product provides 2 grams of plant sterols. About Promise(R) Promise
spreads can help maintain a healthy heart when eaten instead of
butter or margarine as part of a diet low in saturated fat, trans
fat, and cholesterol. Besides a wonderfully delicious buttery
taste, Promise Buttery Spread's Heart Health Essentials(TM)
formulation was developed to provide a balanced blend of essential
fatty acids and vitamins with no trans fats and no cholesterol.
About Unilever Unilever [NYSE: UL, UN], one of the world's largest
consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by
meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care.
Each day, around the world, consumers make 150 million decisions to
purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands
that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life. In
the United States these brands include recognized names such as:
Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country
Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Knorr,
Lipton, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle,
Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are
registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated
to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and
play, Unilever in the United States employs approximately 13,000
people in more than 60 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states
and Puerto Rico - generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2006.
For more information visit http://www.unileverusa.com/. (1) Pouteau
EB, Monnard IE, Piguet-Welsch C, et. al. Non-esterified plant
sterols solubilized in low fat milks inhibit cholesterol
absorption--a stable isotope double-blind crossover study. Eur J
Nutr 2003;42(3):154-64. (2) Kannel WB, Neaton JD, Wentworth D, et.
al. Overall and coronary heart disease mortality rates in relation
to major risk factors in 325,348 men screened for the MRFIT.
Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Am Heart J.
1986;112(4):825-36. (3) M Law et al. By how much and how quickly
does reduction in serum cholesterol concentration lower the risk of
ischaemic heart disease? British Medical Journal 1994; 308:
367-373. DATASOURCE: Unilever CONTACT: Corey R. Martin of Ogilvy PR
Worldwide, for Unilever, +1-212-880-5364, Web site:
http://www.unileverusa.com/ http://www.promisehealthyheart.com/
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