Luton author pens ‘The Food Alphabet for Heart Health’ in honour of grandfather

Michelle Leon, 28, from Bushmead, has penned ‘The Food Alphabet for Heart Health’, which she hopes will motivate residents to change their lifestyles for the better.

Michelle was inspired to channel her inner wordsmith after her grandfather, Emile Leon, passed away aged 92 in May, and she hopes he would be proud of her work.

Michelle said: “My grandfather inspired me to write this book. He was a great role model as to how to live a healthy lifestyle.

“I have always been someone that likes to investigate things, and my grandfather was always looking into things.

“He was very much an advocate of growing your own veg and avoiding junk food.

“Unfortunately, he got sick when he was 90, but he would have loved to have carried on gardening.

“When he passed away I wanted to do something positive, focus my mind and share my knowledge.”

Michelle wished to focus on combatting heart disease because, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is the number one cause of death worldwide.

The condition occurs when your blood vessels (arteries) have lots of fatty deposits building up inside them, which can potentially cause a heart attack or stroke.

Michelle said: “From my experience, I noticed that telling people to just eat healthy just doesn’t quite cut it. These days we all live such busy lives.

“I wanted to create a book that simplifies what an individual should be eating to the letter, as simple dietary changes can bring big rewards.”

Michelle’s book, available from Amazon, features food such as almonds and beetroot, explaining their benefits and how to include them in your diet. But her mission doesn’t end there. Michelle added: “I want people to never disqualify themselves because of a label. I was diagnosed with dyspraxia (a learning difficulty similar to dyslexia which also affects co-ordination), but I didn’t let that stop me.

“Whatever someone’s label or condition is, they shouldn’t let it stop them either. Think of something you are passionate about and get writing!”