Using Plant Sterols To Lower Cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, then you are probably looking for ways to bring it back down to a healthy and normal level. Doing so will help you to decrease your risk of heart disease and related problems like heart attack and stroke.
Lowering the amount of cholesterol in your diet is an important step for anyone who has above-average cholesterol levels. This is also a good way to help keep your cholesterol levels down within normal ranges in the first place to keep your risk even lower. Often, lowering cholesterol in your diet involves cutting down on animal products (like meat and dairy) as well as some oils.
If you fail to return and maintain your cholesterol at healthy levels, over time it can lead to heart disease and atherosclerosis. This is where the arteries become thicker due to a build up of plaque caused by the excess cholesterol in your blood. This can slow down or even block the blood your heart, dramatically increasing your risk of heart attack.
There are many methods for treating high cholesterol on the market, one of them being plant sterols. Here is a look at how plant sterols can help you as well as where you can find them.
You may have heard plant sterols called by phytosterols. They are a chemical found in plants, which is basically the plant equivalent to the cholesterol that is found in humans and other mammals. Like cholesterol, plant sterols are what the plant uses to create cell membranes.
You can find plant sterols in both processed and natural foods. For instance, many margarines, spreads, and yogurts contain plant sterols, as do natural foods like grains and rice. Corn, rice, and wheatgerm are particularly high in plant sterols. Some oils, such as olive and peanut oil, also contain high amounts of plant sterols, as do the majority of fresh fruits and vegetables. This makes it a relatively easy ingredient to incorporate into your low cholesterol diet, provided that you are following a healthy eating plan.
But just how do plant sterols help you with your cholesterol problem? According to studies, it is thought that by ingesting 2-3 grams of plant sterol a day your cholesterol levels will come down. This is because plant sterols are absorbed in the intestinal tract the same way that cholesterol is, so less “real” cholesterol is absorbed. This allows your LDL cholesterol – the bad cholesterol – level to come down. Many of the fruits and vegetables that contain plant sterols also have the ability to boost your HDL, or good, cholesterol levels.
The use of plant sterols in many condiments like margarines and salad dressings has been widely endorsed by many nutritional groups that study cholesterol. It has also been approved by the FDA for these foods to contain on the labels that they will help you lower your cholesterol. This makes it even easier for your to incorporate these foods into your diet plan. You can also talk to your doctor about other food options that include plant sterols and other ingredients that will help you to lower your cholesterol levels.
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