Did you know your orange juice for breakfast and crackers for a snack may help lower high cholesterol levels? We’re talking about orange juice and crackers that have been fortified with plant sterols. The best part about foods fortified with plant sterols is they taste and look like regular foods, plus they are very effective in helping to reduce cholesterol that is too high.
Plant sterols occur naturally in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds and have powerful cholesterol lowering properties. Some health experts believe them to be one of the most effective dietary approaches to help control high cholesterol. They help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) by competing for absorption with cholesterol found in foods. When consumed as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, plant sterols may reduce LDL
cholesterol by 5–15%, which may result in a 25% reduction in heart disease risk.
Plant foods contain small amounts of plant sterols. Manufacturers have tried to make it easier to get this heart-healthy nutrient by extracting the compound and adding concentrated amounts to food. Fortified foods virtually have no difference in taste or appearance.
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