Published by bbdeveloper on 11 May 2023

Heart Health

Reduce your risk of heart disease.

Understanding cholesterol

There are two main sources of cholesterol. The first is your liver, where it is produced and the second is from dietary consumption of animal products such as egg yolks, meat, and full-fat fresh milk. Cholesterol is transported in the blood by 2 types of proteins – high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). It is needed for making cell walls, tissues, hormones, vitamin D and bile duct.

How dangerous is high cholesterol?

When you have high amounts of bad cholesterol – or LDL – in your body, it causes plaque o build up in your arteries. This narrows the arteries and increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, chest pain and heart disease. Once could even suffer a heart attack or stroke if a deposit dislodges and forms a clot.

Are you at greater risk of having high blood cholesterol?

People with familial hypercholesterolemia – where high cholesterol runs in the family – or those who smoke, live sedentary lifestyles and have unhealthy diets could be at greater risk. Men above 65 and women after menopause are at higher risk too.

How can a healthy diet lower your cholesterol levels?

You can lower your cholesterol by eating more fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, nuts and choose foods which are rich in plant sterols. If you are currently taking cholesterol-lowering medication, you should seek medical advice before making changes to your diet.

What are plant sterols?

Plant sterols are naturally occurring substances found in plant-based foods. Research shows that consuming at least 2g of plant sterols daily can help to reduce the amount of cholesterol that’s absorbed into the bloodstream, hence lowering your blood cholesterol. Although plant sterols are naturally found in healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, the amount present is too low to meet your daily needs. To get 1 gram of plant sterols, you’ll need to consume:

200 tomatoes, or
100 carrots, or
75 apples

However, there are some dairy products such as milk and spreads that are fortified with plant sterols which have been shown to lower blood cholesterol.

MARIGOLD HL Milk has been fortified with plant sterols. Plant sterols have been proven to lower blood cholesterol. High blood cholesterol is the risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. In 2 glasses of MARIGOLD HL Milk (250ml per glass), there are 2g of plant sterols. The elderly population is prone to high cholesterol levels, with some diagnosed with existing heart disease or recovering from a stroke. Lowering their cholesterol levels is not only preventative against heart disease and stroke but also helps in their cholesterol management.

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