Some fruits and vegetables have long been known to have properties that lend themselves to lowering cholesterol in the human body.  In fact, the feature of this month's issue, the açaí berry, stands out remarkably well in this its natural cholesterol-lowering properties.

However, some food product producers are now focusing on enhancing this natural ability to a level designed to have an even greater impact.

Plant sterols, also called phytosterols, are parts of the plants' membranes contained in trace amounts within many fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Plant sterols assist in actively removing cholesterol from the body by literally blocking cholesterol absorption from the intestine (digestive tract). Cholesterol enters the intestine from two sources, from our food intake  and cholesterol from the bodies own stores. In the intestine, cholesterol is taken up by cells lining the intestine and transported to the liver

Plant sterols physically resemble the chemical structure of animal cholesterol molecules to the extent that the body can not differentiate the two.  So the plant sterols can 'trick' the body in taking up the receptor points (micelles) and being transported itself, instead of the actual cholesterol, as it is normally absorbed in the intestine.  Once taken up, since the body does not directly use plant sterols, they are returned to the intestine. The net result is that less actual cholesterol is absorbed, but eliminated, as the plant sterols used up some of your body's capacity to systematically absorb and store real cholesterol during the time it is in your intestine.

With regular use, plant sterols can result in a removal of cholesterol from the body and, over time, a reduction in blood cholesterol levels.

The FDA has put out the health 'claim' that "Foods containing at least 0.4 grams per serving of plant sterols eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, July reduce the risk of heart disease."

A product that contains these levels of plant sterols has access to utilizing this heart healthy claim.

Over 20 clinical studies on the effects of plant sterols on cholesterol have been conducted. One study published in Food Technology indicated that consuming two grams of phytosterols daily could slash the risk of heart disease by 25%. Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that plant sterols interfered with cholesterol absorption by 33% to 42%.

The next issue at www.RealHealthAnswers.com will explore plant sterols in more detail.

The animation below offers a simple illustration of this unique function of plant sterols in our bodies.

 
Plant Sterols in the Body - Animation