Leeza Gibbons Leads New Coaching Program to Boost the Nation's Heart Health

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Have you ever made a promise to yourself that you couldn't keep? Even when it comes to heart health, the most heart-felt personal commitments can often fall by the wayside. A new highly interactive national program, launched by Promise(R), the brand known for products that help remove cholesterol, is aiming to change all of that. The Promise(R) Heart Coach(TM) Program is a platform of inspiration and information to help consumers not only make, but keep, their promises to improve their heart-healthy lifestyle.

Led by journalist and television personality Leeza Gibbons, the Promise(R) Heart Coach(TM) Program's premise is that although there's no shortage of heart health information available to consumers, what's missing is the right balance of motivation and tools to help consumers really make the changes necessary to a heart-healthy lifestyle.

"One in four Americans is at risk for high cholesterol in the United States, and millions of people are confused about what they should do to improve their heart health lifestyle," said Leeza Gibbons. "The Promise(R) Heart Coach(TM) Program truly understands where people are coming from and the challenges they face. It recognizes that we can all use some help, motivation and information along the way -- and it serves it up in a way that is friendly and empowering. It really is like having your own personal coach."

One-Stop Coaching Online

The "heart" of the Promise(R) Heart Coach(TM) Program is an online site, promisehealthyheart.com, that offers a rich array of advice, exercise tips, nutrition tools, and professional coaching. By signing up for the Program, users can receive customized life, fitness, and diet plans with professional, nationally known heart health experts. These include Melissa Ohlson, a nutritionist, RD and the Nutrition Projects Coordinator for the Department of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation at the Cleveland Clinic; and Michael George, a celebrity fitness trainer whose list of clients includes Reese Witherspoon, Tobey Maguire, Julianne Moore, Meg Ryan and Christian Slater.

A particularly empowering feature of the program is that Leeza, Melissa, and Michael are all supplying advice and words of encouragement online -- literally -- through opinion pieces, other written and video commentary, and reader Q & As. All content on the site will be updated on a regular basis, keeping the program fresh and insuring that consumers get the coaching they need to make and stick with their promises.

As part of the Promise(R) Heart Coach(TM) Program, four individuals who make particularly compelling heart-health promises will be chosen to win one- on-one coaching with the Promise Heart Coaches. Consumers can get more information by logging onto the web site http://www.promisehealthyheart.com.

"The Promise(R) brand firmly believes that taking care of your heart is one of the most important promises you can make to yourself," said Eric Berman, Brand Director of Promise(R) from Unilever USA, the makers of Promise(R) activ(TM) SuperShots(TM) and Spreads. "We know that with the right mix of heart-healthy products, tools and motivation, the heart health profiles of millions of Americans can be improved."

About Promise(R)

Promise(R) knows that your heart is capable of amazing things, especially if you take care of it. That's why Promise(R) Spreads contain no trans fat, are non-hydrogenated and are created with Heart Health Essentials(TM), a balanced blend of essential fatty acids high in omega-3 ALA and omega-6*, and vitamin E, and with less saturated fat than butter or margarine. When you replace butter or margarine with Promise(R) spreads, as part of a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, you're actually helping to maintain heart health. And NEW Promise(R) activ(TM) SuperShots(TM) contain 2 g plant sterols per serving in a convenient mini-drink giving consumers an easy way to get natural plant sterols for effective cholesterol reduction. Natural plant sterols are clinically proven to help actively remove cholesterol from the body as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

About Unilever

Unilever , 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.

About Plant Sterols

Foods containing at least 0.4 g per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a total daily intake of at least 0.8 g, as part of a low saturated fat, low trans fat and low cholesterol diet, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of Promise activ(TM) SuperShots(TM) provides 2 g plant sterols.

Promise

CONTACT: Corey R. Martin of Ogilvy PR Worldwide for Promise,
+1-212-880-5364, corey.martin@ogilvypr.com

Web site: http://www.unileverusa.com/
http://www.promisehealthyheart.com/