What are Plant Sterols?
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is necessary for many of body’s normal metabolic functions. Found in all the cells of the body, cholesterol is a building block to manufacture hormones, bile acids, vitamin D, and substances that help us digest food. The problem lies when we have an excess of cholesterol, because it builds up on the walls of the arteries, causing arterial plaques. These plaques are often the cause of heart attacks and other heart-related problems.
What are Phytosterols?
Plant Sterols (also known as phytosterols) have been a natural part of the human diet for millennia; they are found in nearly every plant we eat. The richest dietary sources are whole grains, seeds, nuts, and certain fatty vegetables such as avocado. Phytosterols and cholesterol have very similar chemical structures. Animals produce and use cholesterol for various metabolic processes, while plants produce and use cholesterol for similar processes.
Why supplement your diet with Phytosterols?
Phytosterols have many beneficial properties for human health, however, the best known effect is their ability to reduce cholesterol in the body, both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein is known as LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol).
There are more than 200 scientific studies conducted on plant sterols that have shown how beneficial these natural substances are for our bodies. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will supply plant sterols, but the amount needed to achieve a therapeutic effect is very large. For example, you need to eat 18 cabbages a day to get the equivalent of 2 grams of plant sterols (the amount recommended in most clinical studies). This is why plant sterol supplementation is helpful because it is difficult for most people to reach the recommended amounts without an added supplement.
Who can supplement with Phytosterols?
Although the main benefit of plant sterols is to decrease cholesterol absorption, it does not mean that only those with high cholesterol should increase their intake. Phytosterol supplementation is highly recommended for people who want to improve their overall metabolic health. Anyone can benefit from reaching the recommended daily intake of this natural compound. It can be consumed by children from 5 years old. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should discuss their consumption with their healthcare provider.
What is Cardiosmile: Plant Sterols Dietary Supplement for Heart and Metabolic Health?
Cardiosmile is a Chilean innovation that allows 2 grams of plant sterols to be added directly to a food through a pure liquid formulation. The Cardiosmile formula is free of calories, gluten, lactose, sodium and genetically modified organisms. Cardiosmile is the only formulation of nanodispersed plant sterols in the world that, in addition to helping to reduce cholesterol by 12%, reduces triglycerides by 14%** and abdominal circumference. *
* Amir Shaghaghi, et al. 2014. J Funct Foods. 6:280-289
** Plat et,al. 2019. Prog. Lipid Res. 74:87-102. Palmeiro, et al. 2020. Nutrients, 12(8): 2392.
[
