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Does Beta Sitosterol Help Reduce Cholesterol? |
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Does Beta Sitosterol Help Reduce Cholesterol?
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Darrell Miller | 11/14/13 |
Date:
November 14, 2013 09:47 PM
Author: Darrell Miller
(dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Does Beta Sitosterol Help Reduce Cholesterol?
About Beta Sitosterol
A high cholesterol level in the body is a cause to worry. Many people on learning that their cholesterol levels are way above the norm resort to healthier diets and regular exercises. While these mainstream methods of lowering cholesterol work, researchers have explored other different options that involve the use of cholesterol lowering supplements; Beta Sitosterol.
What is Beta Sitosterol
Beta Sitosterol is a plant sterol that is largely medicinal. Credible studies have shown that this compound is indeed capable of reducing cholesterol. It is able to do this by inhibiting the absorption/uptake of cholesterol from the gut. Researchers have had to perform extensive experiments to come up with these findings about the Beta Sitosterol. But how exactly does this compound achieve this?
Benefits of Beta Sitosterol
Beta Sitosterol’s chemical structure is quite similar to that of cholesterol. On ingestion and during absorption in the intestine, Beta Sitosterol will effectively compete and take the place of dietary cholesterol in the micelles thus inhibiting/lowering its absorption. Furthermore, upon absorption, Beta Sitosterol gets incorporated into the cell membrane further reducing uptake of cholesterol. This happens when Beta Sitosterol inhibits the transportation of cholesterol to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum from the outer cell membrane. This reduces Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL-bad cholesterol) and serum cholesterol levels.
Beta Sitosterol is also said to increase the receptability of the liver cells to LDL. This means that the liver cells are able to effectively absorb LDL from the blood stream reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood. Dietary cholesterol on the other hand is excreted. the use of Beta Sitosterol as a cholesterol reducing supplement has made it possible to reduce cholesterol without dieting or engaging in rigorous exercises. Users of Beta Sitosterol are however warned about prolonged use of this sterol. High concentrations in the body may have dire consequences.
