Plant sterols (phytosterols) are plant compounds with a similar chemical structure to cholesterol, are scientifically proven to help lower LDL cholesterol and are a natural alternative to statins.
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Phytosterols (also referred to as plant sterol and stanol esters) are a group of naturally occurring compounds found in plant cell membranes.
Because plant sterols are structurally similar to the body's cholesterol, when they are consumed they compete with cholesterol for absorption in the digestive system. As a result, cholesterol absorption is blocked, and blood cholesterol levels reduced.
As part of a healthy diet, consuming phytosterols in recommended quantities has been shown to lower total cholesterol up to 10 percent and LDL or "bad" cholesterol up to 14 percent. This reduction is in addition to other cholesterol-lowering strategies you may have initiated such as statins.
No, food scientists have repeatedly confirmed that phytosterols only reduce the "bad" LDL cholesterol whilst not affecting the friendly HDL cholesterol blood levels. HDL helps keep blood vessels walls free of atherosclerosis.