Relationship Between Sterols/Sterolins
(Beta-Sitosterol) and Cholesterol

While the entire medical community is always talking about how bad cholesterol is for us, they neglect to mention that without cholesterol we would cease to exist. The body needs cholesterol and produces it every day in response to the body's needs. Cholesterol is found in high levels in most organs, especially the brain. It is a vital ingredient in cellular membranes and numerous hormones.

We actually produce about 1,000mg per day to satisfy our needs, with additional cholesterol supplied by the foods we eat. Cholesterol is only found in animal products and can also be produced from the ingestion of saturated fats.

Cholesterol does not mix well with our blood and when we ingest it, it needs a carrier to take it to areas where it will be utilized, stored or excreted. The liver produces a carrier for cholesterol called a "lipoprotein." Cholesterol is a combination of different good and bad fat-like substances, the bad cholesterol is called low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and the good guys are called high-density lipoproteins (HDL). High levels of LDL place a risk factor into the bloodstream and may lead to a buildup of plaque on the walls of arteries leading to cardiovascular disease.

HDL's are more proactive and tend to trap particles of cholesterol and bring them to the liver for disposal. A true fat, called a triglyceride is also involved in this process and is the main storage fat for the body. There are numerous drugs that are prescribed to assist you in lowering your cholesterol level, however, the side effects in most people may overshadow the benefits of taking the medication. In the following pages we'll detail the relationship that natural plant sterols/sterolins have with cholesterol levels in the body.

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