Do food products that claim to reduce cholesterol work?

Main Category: Cholesterol
Article Date: 13 Sep 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Some food products claim to lower cholesterol in the blood. Do they work?

There is evidence that foods containing certain added ingredients, such as plant sterols and stanols, can reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood. But there isn't enough evidence to say what the long-term effects of eating these products might be.

If your doctor has told you that you have high cholesterol, you can help to lower it by changing your diet, without eating special products.

Cut down on foods that are high in saturated fat such as biscuits, cakes, pastries, meat pies, sausages, hard cheese, cream, butter and foods containing coconut or palm oil. This is because eating too much saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels.

Choose foods that are rich in unsaturated fats instead, such as oily fish, avocados and sunflower, rapeseed and olive oils. Unsaturated fats can help to lower cholesterol.

Like saturated fats, trans fats can raise cholesterol levels. Trans fats may be found in foods that contain hydrogenated fats, including some types of biscuits, cakes, fast food, pastry, margarine and spreads.

And don't forget that we should also reduce the total amount of fat we eat. So try microwaving, steaming, poaching, boiling or grilling, instead of roasting or frying; choose lean cuts of meat and go for low-fat varieties of dairy products and spreads.

You can eat plenty of starchy foods, such as bread, pasta and rice, as well as fruit and vegetables - aim for five portions of a variety of types every day.

Regular physical activity, such as brisk walking, swimming or cycling, can also help to improve your cholesterol levels. Food Standards Agency, UK

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