Granola bars with plant sterols

01/04/05 General Mill’s Nature Valley brand will introduce a category first at the upcoming 2005 FMI Show: Nature Valley Healthy Heart Granola Bars with Cargill’s CoroWise Plant Sterols.  Plant sterols are clinically proven to significantly reduce cholesterol in as little as four weeks.  Studies have shown that plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals, may reduce heart disease risk in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Each Nature Valley Healthy Heart Granola Bar contains 0.4 grams of CoroWise plant sterols and features the great taste and wholesome goodness that have made Nature Valley Granola Bars top performers in the grain category.
Although people consume plant sterols, which are naturally present in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals and vegetables, the typical diet provides only about 200-300 milligrams per day of plant sterols*.  “Studies have shown that 0.8 grams – the amount found in two Nature Valley Healthy Heart Granola Bars -- consumed over a period of as little as four weeks can reduce LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol by about 6 percent.  For the one-third of Americans with borderline total cholesterol levels, this product can be a useful tool in cholesterol management,” said Jean Storlie, M.S., R.D., and senior manager of the General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition.

Like all Nature Valley Granola Bars, the two flavors of Nature Valley Healthy Heart Granola Bars are made with pure and simple ingredients. The Oatmeal Raisin variety is made with whole grain oats and plump, juicy raisins, and Honey Nut is made with honey-sweetened granola and California almonds. Nature Valley Healthy Heart Bars are also a good source of whole grain and fiber. 
“For on-the-go adults, Nature Valley Healthy Heart Granola Bars are a convenient and tasty way to add heart healthy benefits to their daily routine,” said Martin Abrams, Marketing Manager for  Nature Valley.