Category Archives: Sterols and Stanols

Cloves

Clove trees (Eugenia aromatica) produces two cm long pink flowers that can be picked as buds and dried. These buds when dried turn brown, and at this point are referred to as cloves. Cloves are a common spice found throughout … Continue reading

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The Wulzen Factor (Stigmasterol)

The Wulzen anti-stiffness factor is a compound that was originally discovered in molasses and unpasteurised cream. Its discoverer Rosalind Wulzen, showed that the compound could reverse the calcification of joints in osteoarthritis. More recently the Wulzen factor has been identified … Continue reading

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Plant Sterols Lower Cholesterol Absorption: Should We Care?

According to proponents of the cholesterol theory of cardiovascular disease, dietary cholesterol causes elevations in plasma (blood) levels of cholesterol and this in turn causes atherosclerosis, plaques which occlude blood flow in arteries and lead to heart attacks. Based on … Continue reading

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Dandelion: Diuretic and Liver Tonic

The name dandelion comes from the French for lions tooth (dent de lion). This is in reference to the jagged tooth like leaves that characterise the dandelion plant (Taracum officinale). Generally, gardeners think of dandelion as a weed on account … Continue reading

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Acai Berry: Antioxidant Cocktail

 he acai berry is a fruit found in palm trees (Euterpe oleraceae) native to the Amazon basin and surrounding areas in South America. The fruit of the tree holds economic value to the indigenous populations of these areas where it … Continue reading

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More Cholesterol Lowering Nutrients: Rice Bran oil

 number of nutrients have been researched for their ability to lower plasma cholesterol concentrations in humans. In many cases the lowering effects are as great or greater than the current cholesterol lowering drugs of choice, the statins. However, the nutrients … Continue reading

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Sterols as Drugs: Reviving the Zombie Cholesterol Theory

Sterols are plant lipids that have similar structures to the animal lipid cholesterol. Examples of sterols common to the human diet include β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol present in foods such as cereals, nuts and legumes. Because of their similar structure, … Continue reading

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Efflux Proteins Regulate Steroid and Sterol Absorption

Sterols are group of plant compounds with structures similar to the steroid cholesterol (here). Sterols are of interest to nutritional scientists because they show the ability to lower plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations. The similarity in structure between the … Continue reading

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Plant Stanols and Sterols: More Cholesterol Myths Exposed

Plants contain a rich cocktail of biochemical compounds, many of which have been shown to interact with mammalian physiology. Plant sterols and stanols are two such groups of compounds that are bioactive in humans and animals. Stanols and sterols have … Continue reading

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Statins Versus Foods: Cholesterol Lowering

Plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular disease, although the cause and effect are continually misrepresented by the mainstream medical establishment. Based on the preconceived idea that raised plasma LDL cholesterol is a cause of cardiovascular disease, … Continue reading

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