Lifestyle Tips That Lower Cholesterol

Consider Plant Sterols

Doctors often recommend that patients consider plant sterols when trying to reduce cholesterol. Plant sterols are naturally found in the cell membranes of plants, and they closely resemble cholesterol. When plant sterols are ingested, they compete with the cholesterol in the body. They appear to limit the amount of cholesterol that enters the body, and they might also reduce the body's ability to produce cholesterol. Plant sterols can be taken as supplements, and they are added to some types of margarine. Research indicates plant sterols reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by three to fifteen percent in patients with elevated cholesterol who follow a cholesterol-lowering diet.

When taken with a statin, plant sterols typically reduce a patient's total cholesterol by an extra twelve to twenty-two milligrams per deciliter. A daily dose of two to three grams of plant sterols seems to be particularly effective. Plant sterols cannot decrease triglycerides, and they will not increase a patient's levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Patients who take plant sterol supplements regularly could notice they stop working as well after two or three months. Individuals should check with their physician about the most appropriate way to incorporate plant sterols into their diets, and they should also ask about the most effective dose for their health.

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