What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy substance that’s found naturally in the body and is essential to keeping every cell wall working well. The body uses cholesterol to make vital substances such as vitamin D and some hormones. Most cholesterol is made in the liver and a small amount comes from the diet.

There are two main types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Lipoprotein is the name for cholesterol combined with the proteins that carry it around your body.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) takes cholesterol from the liver to the body tissues. If there is too much of this cholesterol in the blood it can build up in the walls of the blood vessels and cause them to narrow. This is why LDL cholesterol is sometimes called ‘bad’ cholesterol.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) can remove excess cholesterol from tissues and return it to the liver from where it can be eliminated. HDL cholesterol is sometimes referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol.

Elevated LDL cholesterol is widely accepted to be one of the main risk factors for coronary heart disease. Elevated LDL cholesterol can be controlled through changes in diet and lifestyle.

Foods proven to lower your cholesterol

Plant sterol enriched foods can actively lower cholesterol, taste good and fit easily into an everyday diet.

No other foods are proven to be more effective at lowering cholesterol than Flora pro-activ. Plant sterols, the active ingredient in Flora pro-activ, are clinically proven to significantly lower LDL cholesterol by 7-10%. By moving to a healthy diet and lifestyle an additional 5% reduction in LDL cholesterol can be achieved.

The diagram at the top on the opposite page shows you certain foods that are known to lower cholesterol. The hearts represent the percentage that food can lower your cholesterol by.

What are plant sterols?Plant sterols are naturally occurring in all plant-based foods. Dietary sources of plant sterols include vegetable oils and fats, cereal grains, cereal-based products like bread, nuts, legumes and fruits & vegetables.The recommended intake of plant sterols needed for a significant reduction in blood LDL cholesterol concentrations, is around 2 g per day.In order to consume 2 g plant sterols a day, one would need to consume 425 tomatoes or 210 carrots or 150 apples. That would be quite a challenge!Flora pro-activ can help. Consuming 25 g Flora pro-activ daily will provide you with the recommended amount of 2 g plant sterols per day. All you need to do is make sure that you have your 25 g a day.

How do plant sterols work?Plant sterols work by reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed by your gut. This reduces the amount in your bloodstream, resulting in lower levels of LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol.

More cholesterol absorbed = higher blood cholesterol levels

Less cholesterol absorbed = lower blood cholesterol levels

Cholesterol Plant Sterol

Flora pro-activ Soya drink Oats Sunflower Oil Olive Oil

-1%

-3%-4%

-5%-6%

-10%

0%

Oily fishAlmonds

Foods scientifically proven to lower cholesterol