Saturday, March 15, 2014

Whole Garins and phytosterols and food-based cholesterol

Whole grains provide a complex array of beneficial bioactive components, including vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, beta-glucan, inulin, and phytosterols.

Plant sterols and plant stanols are collectively known as phytosterols. Plant sterols are plant compounds with chemical structures similar to that of cholesterol. Especially high sterol levels are found in rice bran, wheat germ, corn oils, and soybeans.

Interestingly, phytosterols so closely resemble cholesterol that they can actually block food-based cholesterol from being absorbed into the bloodstream. 

The result is that both phytosterols and dietary cholesterol end up excreted in waste matter.

For more info, pease visit http://www.choleslo.com/articles/phytosterols.php

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