And you may find it in nutritious foods you already eat.
), but it’s also recognized asAmerican Heart Month.
One of those ways?
Eating moreplant sterolsfor your cholesterol.
But…what are they?
So, what exactly makes plant sterols so effective for your heart health?
sports cardiologist with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
Read on to learn more.
How do plant sterols benefit heart health?
Because of this similarity, plant sterols can compete with cholesterol forabsorption in the digestive system.
How exactly does that work?
Normally, cholesterol would be absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine.
However, when plant sterols are present, theyblock a significant portionof cholesterol from being absorbed.
Pretty cool, right?
This is key to plant sterols' heart health benefits.
Here’s a closer look at how plant sterols can help your heart specifically:
1.
sports cardiologist with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
(More on this in a bit.)
It may help lower blood pressure
Dr. Higgins also notes that plant sterols may lower blood pressure.
If your triglycerides are high, working on lowering them can also lower yourrisk of heart attack.
What foods naturally contain plant sterols?
Thankfully, a few different foods contain plant sterols naturally.
Looking for ways to include these foods?
Begin by incorporating a food you like that contains plant sterols into your daily routine.
What about plant sterol or stanol supplements?
Most plant sterol supplements contain about900to1,000 milligramsper capsule, which equals about 1 gram.
This means, you may have to take two or more capsules per day to reach an effective limit.
Lastly, there are some side effects to consider, whether you have a heart condition or not.
However, its important to note that plant sterols are just one part of the picture.
…
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