Plant Sterol enriched margarine spreads can help reduce blood cholesterol

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We’ve all seen margarine spreads in the supermarkets that boast about being “cholesterol reducing” etc. Have you every wondered if they really work?

Well…This is some information that I found on an information handout from the Heart Foundation…

‘What is a plant sterol?

Plant sterols are naturally occurring components mainly found in vegetable oils but are also present in smaller amounts in nuts, legumes, breads and cereals. Traces are also found in fruit and veges.

What effect do plant sterols have on blood cholesterol levels?

Plant sterols can lower blood cholesterol levels by around 10%, depending on how much is consumed. A reduced blood cholesterol level is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.

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What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol and triglycerides are fatty substances that can be found in the blood. There are 2 types of cholesterol:

(1) Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol which is sometimes referred to as BAD cholesterol because it increases your risk of coronary heart disease
(2) High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is the GOOD cholesterol because it protects you against coronary heart disease

Triglycerides travel through your blood and are also stored as fat deposits in your body. High levels of triglycerides are common in people with high cholesterol, and in people who are overweight and have heart disease and/or diabetes.

LDL cholesterol accumulates along your artery walls, forming plaque and narrowing your arteries. HDL cholesterol then comes along and tries to clean it up.

So usually when you get a blood test the doctors will check both your total cholesterol and your HDL cholesterol levels and then sometimes they will calculate a ratio by dividing the total cholesterol by the HDL cholesterol. The lower this ratio…the better off you are when it comes to heart disease. Read more