Plant sterols and stanols are phytosterols—essential components of plant membranes—that resemble the chemical structure of animal cholesterol and carry out similar cellular functions in plants. Sterols are present naturally in small quantities in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes, vegetable oils, and other plant sources. Stanols occur in even smaller quantities in many of the same sources. Cholesterol can be obtained from non-dietary sources through processes in the human body such as liver synthesis and intestinal absorption. Plant sterols and stanols differ from cholesterol in that they can only be obtained through dietary sources. Including plant sterols/stanols in the diet may lower blood cholesterol levels: a health effect that has been studied for more than 50 years.
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In addition to the above video, you may also find some information from the International Food Information Council useful.
http://ific.org/publications/factsheets/sterolfs.cfm
Here's some information on plant sterols ....
Plant sterols and stanols are phytosterols—essential components of plant membranes—that resemble the chemical structure of animal cholesterol and carry out similar cellular functions in plants. Sterols are present naturally in small quantities in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes, vegetable oils, and other plant sources. Stanols occur in even smaller quantities in many of the same sources. Cholesterol can be obtained from non-dietary sources through processes in the human body such as liver synthesis and intestinal absorption. Plant sterols and stanols differ from cholesterol in that they can only be obtained through dietary sources. Including plant sterols/stanols in the diet may lower blood cholesterol levels: a health effect that has been studied for more than 50 years.
May 15, 2008 - 3:16pmThis Comment
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