Cholesterol Problems (The Sunday Times, 20 November 2005)

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Q My family has a history of cholesterol problems, and my GP has warned me to watch my cholesterol levels. I am concerned that, as the party season approaches, these could get out of hand. What can I take to help?



A First, ensure you have a regular intake of plant sterols. Sterols — which can be found naturally in small quantities in many pulses, nuts and seeds, as well as vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables — are known to lower blood cholesterol levels by partly blocking absorption. Specific “superfoods” with cholesterol-lowering properties include oats (especially oat bran), so start your day with a hearty bowl of porridge sprinkled with blueberries, which contain a compound called pterostilbene that may help to reduce cholesterol. Adding garlic and ginger to your diet, and eating walnuts (a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that lowers cholesterol), will also help, as will oily fish.

In addition, I suggest that you take a supplement over this challenging dietary period. BioCare’s ground-breaking Sterolvite not only provides a supplement of plant sterols and the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum (a beneficial bacterium that has been shown to help normalise cholesterol levels), but contains vitamins B6 and B12, folic acid and the nutrient trimethylglycine. The B vitamins and trimethylglycine provide a source of methyl groups, which it is thought the body uses to deal with excess homocysteine, a toxic by-product considered to be a more threatening trigger for cardiovascular disease than cholesterol. Sterolvite costs £19.95 for 90 capsules (0121 433 3727). Take one three times a day with food.



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