# How ‘heart health’ cooking sessions are changing women’s lives

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/how-heart-health-cooking-sessions-are-changing-womens-lives/
- Published: 2026-11-12T06:20:16+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T07:27:21+00:00
- Original publisher: feeds.bbci.co.uk (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckx2dzd3eq4no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Culture, Food, Sheffield

## Key points

- Doncaster cooking sessions support women at risk of heart problems.
- The 12-week programme covers food, nutrition and exercise.
- Organisers hope prevention will reduce future illness and NHS pressure.

## Summary

The British Heart Foundation is funding cooking sessions in Doncaster to help women aged 40 to 74 who may be at risk of cardiovascular problems improve their diet and lifestyle. The programme matters because the area faces high deprivation and low healthy life expectancy, and organisers hope early support can reduce future illness and pressure on the NHS.

The 12-week course, launched earlier this year, combines cooking with nutrition and exercise sessions; participants are referred by their GPs. In a library kitchen, instructor Amy Gallagher demonstrates affordable meals, including fish curry made with frozen fish and reduced-fat coconut milk, while sharing tips on cooking and storing leftovers. One participant, 61-year-old Kath Purdie, has Type 2 diabetes and is trying to reduce fatty foods; 51-year-old Amanda Mikaoauskas says she now uses more spices and eats nuts and seeds.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.