In addition to the classic nutrients such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which ensure that we grow and get energy, most food products also contain substances that are not essential but do have a stimulating and protective effect. I would call these so-called secondary metabolites in the plant medicines. One group of these medicines are the phytosterols
Phytosterols
Vegetable oils in particular, and therefore many seeds and nuts that are rich in fats, contain sterols (beta-sitosterol, campesterol, brassicasterol), which are very similar to cholesterol, hence the name phytosterols. They have one or two extra carbon groups on the side chain of the cholesterol. Because they are very similar to cholesterol, they competitively interfere with cholesterol absorption in the body. Many scientists are convinced that a high concentration of cholesterol in the serum is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. That is why many campaigns are aimed at lowering cholesterol, especially since it has been shown that a 10% reduction in cholesterol would reduce the risk of having a heart attack by 27%. The phytosterols are therefore interesting substances to use in ‘functional food’. Besides interfering with cholesterol absorption in the intestine, they also do not have the adverse effects of normal cholesterol on the heart and blood vessels once they have been absorbed.
Functional food
The ‘functional foods’ ‘Benecol’ and ‘Becel pro-activ’ contain stanols and sterols respectively. The stanols are hydrogenated sterols that have been esterified with a fatty acid molecule from rapeseed to form stanol ester. This chemical processing means that plant stanols, which are naturally poorly soluble in fat, can now be used in foods. Various studies show that Benecol reduces serum cholesterol levels. For example, LDL cholesterol would drop by 12-14%, without a change in HDL cholesterol levels. A disadvantage of phytosterols is that they reduce the absorption of carotenes (pro-vitamin A) from food, making the new product only suitable for people with high cholesterol levels and not so much for healthy people or children.
But why not just eat nuts and seeds, which contain a lot of those phytosterols, instead of artificially and expensively developing products with engineered sterols. Isn’t this making things difficult for ourselves when we could have things easy?
Phytosterols in food
Phytosterols are mainly found in whole grains, seeds and kernels (for example figs, berries and even grape and pumpkin seeds), nuts contain between 100 and 160 mg per 100 grams, carrots (carrots, radishes, parsnips, celeriac and the like) and soy beans.
Phytosterols do not come from cholesterol (found in animals) but from plants (phyto). Both plant steroids (phytosterols) and animal steroids (cholesterols) can be converted into cortisone, testosterone (in men) or estradiol (in women), but administration of cholesterol is far too dangerous with a view to arteriosclerosis. Therefore, even if the cholesterol level were too low, it is better to take phytosterols in the form of the foods indicated above.
Phytosterols in medicinal herbs
Also a number of medicinal herbs, such as Eleutherococcus, Panax ginseng, Serenoa repens (dwarf palm), Urtica (nettle root), soy, wheat germ, linseed and pumpkin seeds (100 to 200 milligrams of each of these dried powdered herbs is sufficient for a daily dose. Take this for 4 to 6 weeks. All these natural products contain phytosterols to an even greater extent than in the foods mentioned.
To complete the treatment, you can use vitamin B complex or brewer’s yeast capsules. Vitamin B complex accelerates and promotes the conversion of dietary phytosterols into cortisone. Finally, ensure sufficient exercise. Do sports, because this provides healthy stress and stimulates the adrenal glands to produce a higher production of cortisone. This
treatment provides energy, can ensure better sports performance and can especially help with prostate complaints and too high cholesterol levels are used.
