As the different activities during American Heart Month come to a close this week, it is important to remind all of us what PepsiCo is doing to promote heart health and help reduce the burden of heart disease and its risk factors.
As many of you know, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. It is also a major cause of disability, reduced quality of life, and rising health care costs.
It is now well-recognized that poor nutrition and physical inactivity are some of the most important factors that contribute to poor health. At PepsiCo, we are on a journey to transform our portfolio of products to support our consumers in their effort to reduce their risk of heart disease and promote overall well-being. We recognize that specific changes in food industry practices can favorably impact diet and nutrition, and may therefore contribute to reducing the risk of heart disease.
At PepsiCo, we want to be part of the solution. As a result, below are seven key actions that PepsiCo is currently taking to help reduce the risk of heart disease around the globe:
- Increasing the use of healthy oils
- Reducing saturated fats, transfats, added sugar, and sodium
- Enhancing healthy ingredients such as fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and vegetables
- Investing in novel crops that also contribute to enhanced nutrient-density
- Reducing calorie density and providing options for portion size
- Raising public awareness and promoting physical activity
- Adopting advertising practices that promote balanced nutrition, particularly in children
No single sector has been successful in addressing the enormity of the heart disease problem by itself. PepsiCo’s goal is to be a leader in the food industry by fostering partnerships to address heart health. We believe that the industry’s global reach, experience, and expertise in food production, processing, and distribution, and its invaluable consumer insights provide unique opportunities to make a positive impact on heart health.
In addition to supporting PepsiCo’s actions, we can all help promote heart health by participating in workplace wellness programs, being active, eating healthily, and seeking regular preventive screening as recommended by our health care providers.
