FAQ

• What is Flora pro-activ?
  Flora pro-activ® is a spread enriched with natural plant sterols. The plant sterols in Flora pro-activ® actively reduce cholesterol absorption. Maintaining a low level of cholesterol in the bloodstream is an important factor in helping to maintain a healthy heart.
• How does Flora pro-activ taste?
  Flora pro-activ® has the great taste of Flora® . Plant sterols are tasteless and odourless and therefore do not affect the flavour of food.
• How does Flora pro-activ work?
  Flora pro-activ® tastes great spread on bread, toast, sandwiches, crispbread, muffins, scones, melted on potatoes and topped on cooked vegetables. While you can use Flora pro-activ® Original for cooking, baking and frying, Flora pro-activ® Light, Flora pro-activ® Ultra Light and Flora pro-activ® with Olive Oil are not suitable for frying due to the reduced fat content. Flora pro-activ® Original and Flora pro-activ® with Olive Oil can be frozen.
• Is Flora pro-activ suitable if I'm taking cholesterol lowering medication?
  We recommend you inform your doctor on the use of Flora pro-activ® .
• How much should I use?
  To obtain the maximum benefit of Flora pro-activ® spread, research shows that on average 25grams a day should be consumed. This is equivalent to spreading Flora pro-activ® on 3-4 slices of bread a day. We recommend using Flora pro-activ® as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. The use of a plant sterol spread is only one way of managing cholesterol, check with your doctor for more advice.
• What happens if I eat less than 25g per day?
  Flora pro-activ® will still reduce cholesterol absorption if you eat less than 25grams per day. However the effect will not be as great.
• What will happen if I stop eating Flora pro-activ?
  Missing out on your daily intake of Flora pro-activ® for a day or two will not cause a problem. However, remember that plant sterols will actively prevent the absorption of cholesterol only if consumed on a regular basis i.e. 25 grams equivalent to spreading Flora pro-activ on 3-4 slices of bread a day. When making dietary changes, try to implement them on a long-term basis in order to obtain the maximum benefit.
• Can my cholesterol level go down too far?
  No. While continued use of Flora pro-activ® as a part of a healthy diet will reduce cholesterol absorption in the body, your body continues to produce enough cholesterol to meet its needs.
• Does Flora pro-activ Light, Ultra Light and with Olive Oil have the same effect as the regular spread?
  Yes, the Light and Ultra Light variants contain the same amount of plant sterols so you only need to eat 25grams each day as with the standard spread.
• Are Flora pro-activ spreads vegetarian?
  Flora pro-activ® Original contains milk and is therefore suitable for lacto-vegetarians. Flora pro-activ® Light, Flora pro-activ® Ultra Light and Flora pro-activ® with Olive Oil contain gelatine, which is from animal origin, and are therefore not suitable for vegetarians.
• Can I use Flora Pro-activ if I am diabetic?
  As diabetics can suffer from high blood cholesterol, Flora pro-activ® is particularly useful in helping to lower cholesterol absorption. This will not interfere with the individuals insulin requirements (always consult a doctor).
• How do you include Flora pro-activ in an overall weight loss diet?
  25 grams of Flora pro-activ® per day provides optimal reduction in cholesterol absorption. This amount will deliver 16 grams of good fat and can easily be included in a 6000 kJ per day weight loss plan. Flora pro-activ® Light can be used if greater restrictions on total kilojoules are considered necessary (delivering 10 grams of good fat), or Flora pro-activ® Ultra Light (delivering 6 grams of good fat).
• Is Flora Pro-activ suitable for children, pregnant and lactating women?
  We do not suggest that pregnant or lactating women and children under 5 use the product, because these groups have special nutritional needs and do not usually require a cholesterol lowering diet. Flora pro-activ® is specifically designed for people with high cholesterol and is marketed as such. In this instance, consult your doctor.
• Does Flora pro-activ contain trans or partially-hydrogenated fats?
  No. Flora pro-activ has always been virtually free (less than 1%) of trans fatty acids and contains no hydrogenated fats.

• Why is using a Flora spread better than using butter?
  Public health nutrition guidelines recommend using margarine spreads rather than butter, and a variety of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated oils in order to promote heart health and meet recommended intakes for essential fatty acids. Butter is high in the 'bad' saturated fats. Margarine spreads are lower in saturated fats and high in the 'good' fats. The Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Adults make special mention of using margarine spreads rather than butter in cooking for good health.
• Are all fats bad for cholesterol and health?
  No, in moderation some fats help maintain good heart health. It is the types of fats in the diet that is important. Dietary recommendations are to:

  • Eat LESS "bad" saturated fat found in full fat dairy products, butter, fatty meats, cakes, pastries and take-away foods.
  • Replace saturated fat with the "good" unsaturated fats (mono- and polyunsaturated) found in sunflower, canola, olive oils, nuts, fish and margarine spreads.
• Isn't it healthier to cut off all fats instead of using spreads?
  No. In developed countries most people eat too much fat, so moderation of your total fat intake is important, but some fat in the diet is essential. Experts advise that it is important to eat enough essential polyunsaturated fatty acids that cannot be made by the body. These are predominantly obtained on a regular daily basis from spreads like Flora and oils. The regular Flora spreads are designed to help people achieve their recommended intakes of essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6). They also provide significant amounts of vitamins A, D and E.
• Why do you add salt to Flora spreads?
  In New Zealand, spreads have traditionally been made with salt because consumers have shown a preference for this taste, just as they are familiar with, and have shown a preference for, salted butters. The use of a small amount of salt also has a functional benefit. For example, it helps limit the spattering that might occur when shallow frying. Choose Flora Salt Reduced if you are watching your salt intake.
• What are Omega 3 & Omega 6?
  Omega 3: There are two different types of Omega 3 - one is an essential fatty acid and is found in vegetable oils like canola oil and linseed oil. The other is found in oily fish like mackerel and herrings. The two types of Omega 3 work in different ways to aid your heart health. It's good to eat oily fish twice a week as part of a healthy balanced diet, but Flora spreads can provide Omega 3 fatty acids from vegetable sources on a daily basis.
  
  Omega 6: this second essential fatty acid is found in seed oils such as sunflower oil and products made with these oils, such as Flora spreads.
  
  Both Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids have important roles in helping to maintain heart health. Omega 6 fats play an important role in maintaining our blood cholesterol levels, while Omega 3 fats have been shown to help keep our hearts healthy.
• How does Flora help to look after your heart health?
  Flora spreads are rich in unsaturated fats, low in saturated fats and virtually trans fat free. They also contain Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, which help keep your heart healthy. In addition, Flora pro-activ margarine spreads are enriched with plant sterols, which can reduce cholesterol absorption to help maintain a healthy heart when moving to a healthy diet.
• Is Flora suitable for the whole family?
  Yes. Flora spreads can be easily incorporated into meals enjoyed by the whole family. It is important to note that Flora pro-activ foods may not be suitable for children, pregnant or lactating women, as these people have special dietary needs.
• What is the difference between the Flora spreads?
  All of the Flora spreads contain healthy polyunsaturated fats, however, each spread is different in terms of their nutritional benefits and/or taste.
• What are good fats, what are bad fats?
  The 'good fats' include the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are types of polyunsaturated fats. These good fats help to maintain cardiovascular health. Saturated and trans fats are the so-called 'bad fats' as these are the culprits in raising cholesterol levels.
• Can I still cook all my usual recipes with Flora?
  Although there are no hard and fast rules, Flora Original, Flora Salt Reduced and Flora Buttery Taste spreads can be used for everyday baking - cakes, scones, muffins etc. However the reduced fat level can mean a slight reduction in volume and keeping qualities in cakes and we would not recommend using Flora spreads in recipes that require a short and tender result such as biscuits and pastry. Flora Light and Flora Ultra Light are great for spreading and melting but due to the reduced fat level are not suitable for baking or frying.
• Can I eat Flora if I am a vegetarian or if I have allergies?
  Flora and Flora pro-activ Light and Ultra Light are not suitable for vegetarians, as they contain gelatine. All other Flora and Flora pro-activ products are suitable for lacto-vegetarians.
  
  Flora and Flora pro-activ contain milk and soy. Please check the ingredient list for any other ingredient you might be allergic to.
• For how long can I store Flora?
  The shelf life of Flora is 7 months. You should always observe the best before date on each pack, and keep the pack refrigerated.
• Can Flora be frozen?
  It is fine to freeze Flora Original, Flora Buttery Taste, Flora Salt Reduced and Flora Canola. However, due to the reduced fat content, it is not suitable to freeze Flora Light and Flora Ultra Light.
• Does Flora margarine spreads contain trans fatty acids?
  All variants of Flora margarine spreads virtually free of trans fatty acids (less than 1%).