Cricket legend and Strictly Come Dancing winner Mark Ramprakash can still vividly recall the fear he felt when his father, Deonarine, was rushed to hospital with a stroke in 2012.
“It was scary, because dad had the stroke then tried to make a phone call, but his speech was impaired. Luckily, we got him in an ambulance and off to the hospital. You’re thinking all kinds of things at that stage.” Thankfully Deonarine, then aged 70, recovered, but doctors identified that, along with diabetes and high blood pressure, he was also suffering from high cholesterol, a likely factor in causing the stroke.
While Mark’s mother is Caucasian, Deonarine is Indo-Guyanese, and the batsman now understands that this heritage puts him at higher risk of inheriting cardiovascular issues too. “There’s high cholesterol in the general population,” Mark explains, “but in particular among people of South Asian heritage, who seem to have more chance of having a stroke or cardiovascular event, so that hit home.”
Mark Ramprakash and dance partner Karen Hardy on Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 (PA)It has spurred the ex-England batter to support the Get Back in the Game campaign, launched by Novartis UK and Heart UK, to raise awareness of cholesterol and heart health. The 53-year-old says: “I think I’ve not really been aware of cholesterol in the past… and the different types of cholesterol.”
In fact, it is a fatty substance in the blood. High levels can lead to narrowing of the arteries and increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. A total cholesterol below 5mmol/L is recommended, but half of British adults have levels that are too high.
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“Happily, my levels were OK,” says Mark. “But there’s no question that this has changed my thinking especially at this stage in my life.
“My family’s South Asian heritage, my age and meeting people of a similar age who thought they were OK playing cricket and then suffered cardiac events – it’s had a huge impact on how I view my choices. I was lucky to have 25 years as a professional sportsman so fitness was at the very heart of that. If you wanted to have longevity in the game, you needed to be aware of your physical fitness and, of course, going hand in hand with that is nutrition.
Mark Ramprakash playing cricket in 2010 (Getty Images)“I’ve been very lucky as I have never drunk alcohol – I think that’s saved me a few headaches.” But Mark, also a non-smoker, does admit: “In terms of nutrition I have got a very sweet tooth so I have to try and manage that. Throughout the pandemic I lost my interest in going to the gym and slacked off with my nutrition.” And he adds his guilty pleasures include “biscuits, chocolate, ice cream – I could go on…
“Since then, I have re-established efforts in terms of working out, doing cardio and limiting sugar too, though I do struggle with that. When I go for a coffee, I like something sweet to accompany it and it’s trying to form better habits. It’s not that you can’t have the odd treat – it’s just awareness of intake.”
Knowing a diet with too much saturated fat can increase cholesterol, Mark has been trying to cook healthily. “I start off with brown toast, honey and maybe scrambled eggs with a coffee. I’ve been trying to start the day with water and vitamin C, and perhaps a banana.
“I might have a chicken salad sandwich for lunch. I don’t eat masses of red meat – I prefer chicken and fish. It’s also trying to have vegetables and salads alongside. One of the things I’ve been doing recently, when I get a coffee, is to buy a fruit salad instead of something sweet.”
Now a TV pundit and batting coach at Middlesex, Mark is back at the gym twice a week. “My routine includes basic strength and core exercises and getting a bit of a sweat on. I play golf once a week – that’s a four-hour walk.
“Sleep is a big thing for me. I’m someone who needs close to eight hours a night. I try to turn the light off by 10.30pm. It makes a huge difference to how much I enjoy the following day.”
Mark is considering doing some meditation for the sake of his mental health too and while the ex-winner of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing isn’t strutting his stuff any longer, he found the activity great for his wellbeing.
“If I had time, I’d consider it. One of the big benefits is how you escape normal life. It’s amazing how you can switch off from the outside world, so I’d definitely advocate it.”
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Meanwhile, he’s calling on people to get their cholesterol levels tested. “People often think they are in reasonable nick but in fact a lot of the population are above where they should be. It’s important to raise awareness of getting a measurement. “It can be quite revealing to those who think they’re fine, but may need to make some lifestyle changes.”
Mark has launched a documentary with Novartis UK and Heart UK for the Get Back in the Game campaign, to raise awareness of the importance of cholesterol, particularly for those who have had cardiovascular events. Watch it at Home
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