Secrets of cholesterol foods

Margarine, yogurt, milk drinks and other food supplements promise to reduce cholesterol. And their health claims seem so interesting that mutuals have proposed to repay. Their secret? Phytosterols. But what is it really? Doctissimo conducted the survey ...

Pro-activ, Danacol, Benecol, Salvékol, Cholegram ... There are countless products that promise to fight against cholesterol. It is true that the problem is size: 17% of adults have cholesterol levels above 2.5 g / l.

Power Plant
The active ingredient in these foods are the phytosterols or plant sterols. They have the distinctive look of cholesterol, they also compete with those from food, preventing it from being absorbed in the intestine and pass into the blood. Different sterols are used by brands: from sunflower oil (Pro-Activ Fruit d'Or), pine (Cholegram St-Hubert, Reducol products in Carrefour or Champion), sugarcane (Salvekol ), soybean (Danacol Danone), but also rice.

On the packaging, sometimes called sterols, stanols sometimes, in the second case they have suffered a small chemical change (they have been hydrogenated to be better integrated with fat)

Effect demonstrated
Is that phytosterols are effective? Many studies have shown their interest. A rate of 2 g per day, they would reduce by just under 10% of total cholesterol and 15% levels of bad cholesterol1, 2. The advantage is that they have no side effects. They are recommended in cases of hypercholesterolemia, even before taking drugs such as static (drug hypocholestérolémiant). But for those already on medication, they can be used, further improving the blood test3, 4. Recent studies have shown that all phytosterols do not seem equivalent, so those derived from cane sugar, policosanol, will permit a reduction of up to 20% of bad cholesterol associated with an increase of good cholesterol.

The only snag with phytosterols, they slightly reduce the absorption of carotene and lycopene, it is essential that you eat fruits and vegetables. And these products are expensive. Besides the mutual, which had once offered to refund the products have stopped doing it ....

Which to choose?
Among all brands, which ones? And in what form? Above all, ask your doctor. Remember that it must reach 1.6 to 3 g per day, corresponding to three tablespoons of margarine, 3 fortified yogurt or over a pint of milk (or a mini-bottle for some brands as Danacol ). Note: paradoxically, it is margarine which will bring fewer calories for the same amount of plant sterols (unless you take a small bottle). Otherwise you can opt for food supplements (such as Salvékol) at a rate of one to two capsules per meal.

Warning, these fortified foods are exclusively for people who must reduce their cholesterol. Do not exceed 3 g and these foods should not be given to children or pregnant or lactating.

 

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