Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death globally. Elevated cholesterol is widely accepted to be one of the key risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is a fat like substance that plays a vital role in every cell in the body. Cholesterol in the gut comes from two sources, from the diet and the liver. So how can we lower cholesterol? Plant sterols are a natural substance found as part of the daily diet, in food of plant origin such as vegetable oils, cereals, grain, nut, fruit and vegetables. Plant sterols partially lower cholesterol uptake by competing with cholesterol during micelle formation in the intestine. Therefore less cholesterol is transported in the micelles. A daily intake of 1.5-2.4g plant sterols can lower LDL cholesterol by 7-10% in 2-3 weeks. Pro.activ contains plant sterols which help reduce cholesterol as part of healthy diet and lifestyle including sufficient fruit and vegetables.
