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Plant sterols to reduce Cholesterol
I believe you have mentioned plant sterols as being effective in reducing high levels of cholesterol. Do you know if they are available in supplement form?
Plant or phytosterols have been used to help lower high cholesterol levels since the 1950s, which is why both doctors and nutritionists recommend a diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole foods to protect the heart.
The reason this works is that, unlike animal fats, plant fats or sterols have a similar molecular structure to cholesterol but are utilised in the body in ways that support the whole cardiovascular system.
Phytosterols work because they compete with and inhibit intestinal absorption of cholesterol. According to a review study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, which reviewed some 16 published studies that administered plant sterols to almost 600 people, total cholesterol was lowered by 10% and LDL or “bad” cholesterol was lowered by 13%.
Both men and women who ate phytosterol-enriched margarines were reported to lower cholesterol levels even further; with reductions of up to 18% in total cholesterol and 23% in bad cholesterol.
The African potato (which is not a potato at all but a tuber plant) contains high levels of beta-sitosterol which is now available in supplement form as Simba. Mail order from The Little Herbal Company (01484 685100) which imports the raw plant material from Africa and makes the gelatin-free supplement in the UK. It costs £24.50 for 90 capsules plus £2 p&p. Take two a day.