Cholesterol, Phytosterols and Healthy Hearts – Best Kept Secrets – Purity Products

Phytosterols are a type of phytonutrient that differ from their relative, cholesterol, in that they promote health. The differences between the chemical structure of phytosterols and the chemical structure of cholesterol are small but significant. These phytonutrients can be found in most vegetables, edible fruits, nuts, seeds, cereals and legumes. B-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol and some of the most commonly occurring phytosterols.

Phytosterols function to regulate the fluidity of cell membranes in plants, much in the same way cholesterol functions in animals and humans. Researchers have been looking to phytosterols as a safe alternative for helping people maintain healthy blood cholesterol concentrations, healthy cardiovascular systems and healthy hearts. Phytosterols are known to inhibit the intestinal recycling process of the cholesterol produced by the liver, which in turn reduces the availability of cholesterol to the body; this interference could also inhibit a percentage of dietary cholesterol absorption. This inhibition is probably due to the fact that phytosterols are similar in structure to cholesterol. The most efficient way to intake plant sterols is with or near a meal, however, some research has proved that plant sterols can be effective if they are taken with a meal or not. It is also suggested that when taking plant sterols, they should be divided in doses to increase their beneficial effect.

Essentially all of the research conducted on phytosterols – including mathematical analysis of this research – show strong affiliations between phytosterol intake and the promotion of healthy blood cholesterol concentrations, healthy cardiovascular systems and healthy hearts.

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U.S. FDA: “Phytosterols Lower LDL-Cholesterol”

Following an elaborate review of “the totality of publicly available scientific evidence,” the US Food and Drug Administration have derived a few main points. The first being that “there is significant scientific agreement to support a relationship between consumption of plant sterol esters – especially ß -sitoserol, campesterol, and stigmasterol – and reduction in the risk of developing heart disease. The second is that “plant sterol esters reduce blood total and/or LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) levels to a significant degree.” The third is that blood HDL (the “good” cholesterol) levels are not decreased by the consumption of plant. Finally, the fourth is that the benefits can be obtained by individuals with either elevated blood cholesterol levels or normal healthy blood cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the blood cholesterol-lowering response takes place regardless of what is consumed the rest of the diet.

New Scientific Research: “Phytosterols Lower LDL-Cholesterol”

Conclusions that have been derived by the US Food and Drug Administration have been echoed in recent research findings that have been published since the government’s decisions. One example is a study that was published in the Journal of Nutrition, which showed that regardless of what was consumed in a diet, the cardiovascular health of men and women with blood LDL cholesterol concentrations within the “average” range (blood LDL cholesterol concentration less than 100mg/dL) received greater support from the addition of phytosterols to their daily diets. Comparable benefits were experienced in another study of men and women who had elevated blood cholesterol concentrations. Studies have consistently shown that phytosterols taken in doses of 2 to 3 grams per day can reduce LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels by about ten percent. In addition to their beneficial effects on blood lipid levels, phytosterols can also normalize inflammatory response of the immune system.

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Earlier this year (2009), a comprehensive meta-analysis study was published; this study analyzed the results of 84 clinical trials that used phytosterols. After rigorous analysis, it was concluded that phytosterols have the ability to lower LDL cholesterol levels. This drop in cholesterol levels was found to be dependent on dosage size. Additionally, the authors of this meta-analysis concluded that about 2 grams of phytosterols taken on a daily basis reduced LDL cholesterol levels by about ten percent.

Phytosterols are found in many types of nuts, oils and seeds. One can either add phytosterols to their diet by ingesting these substances, or by taking a high-quality dietary supplement. These substances are peanut oil, extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, raw or roasted peanuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, flax seed, cashews, almonds, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds and walnuts.