Sterols - how do they lower cholesterol?
There are loads of spreads and yoghurts and drinks that claim to lower your cholesterol - and they all contain sterols. Benecol - Flora Active - you must have seen them. I have not tried them - mainly because they seem expensive - and also because I’m on the prescription tablets.
According to the British Heart Foundation website again -
"
Plant sterols and stanols are thought to reduce the absorption of cholesterol by our intestine . This reduction in absorption makes the liver remove more harmful LDL cholesterol from our circulation, thereby reducing the amount of LDL in the blood. It is believed that plant sterols and stanols lower the total cholesterol level and the level of harmful low density lipoproteins (LDL), but seem to have no effect on the heart-friendly HDL cholesterol levels or triglyceride levels.
Studies suggest that if you consume 2-3g of plant sterols/stanols, this can reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 9 - 20%, although there is considerable variation between individuals.
Plant sterols/stanols have been added to margarine spreads yoghurt and milk products such as Flora Proactive and Benecol. The British Heart Foundation does not endorse any specific products, although there is evidence that they can help to reduce blood cholesterol levels."