Supplements

How Cholesterol Supplements Work

Plant Sterols and Stanols

Plant Sterols and Stanols, also known as phytosterols, are plant based cholesterol chains that block the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. Plant sterols are almost indistinguishable from the chemical makeup of cholesterol and as such interfere with the absorption of animal cholesterol effectively counteracting the absorption process. The results is cholesterol is blocked from entering the bloodstream.

Red Yeast Rice

Not all cholesterol comes from food. In fact, most of our cholesterol is produced in the liver. To interfere with the liver’s production or overproduction of cholesterol, powerful herbs are needed. Consider Red Yeast Rice a kindler, gentler and less toxic statin from nature instead of a laboratory. Red yeast rice affects the liver enzymes responsible for creating new cholesterol from within your body. Red yeast rice is simply fermented yeast on rice paper. It has been used for centuries as a food coloring and for natural medicinal purposes in China.

Policosanol

Policosanol is another herbal ingredient that affects cholesterol production in the liver. Red yeast rice and policosanol interact with different types of enzymes in the liver and thereby their mechanisms of action are very different. The policosanol with the most reputable wealth of clinical trials is the Cuban sugar cane version.

Niacin

Niacin is also an ingredient that interferes with the production of cholesterol in the liver. Niacin not only reduces the amount of LDL cholesterol produced in the liver but raises HDL or “good” cholesterol. Niacin also reduces the rate of HDL degradation into LDL and LDL degradation into VLDL. Niacin produces very desirable results of lower LDL and higher HDL. Niacin has an associated "flushing" effect, but is available in some flush free forms called flush-free niacin, time released niacin, or inositol hexanicitonate.

CoQ10

CoQ10 has no direct effect on cholesterol. CoQ10 provides energy to cells in muscles and major organs like the heart. As you age, your body's coQ10 levels drop. Statins also deplete the body's coQ10 levels. There is an apparent relationship between depleted coQ10 levels and risk of heart attack. CoQ10 works at a cellular level to replenish the heart muscle with new cells resulting in reversing the aging process of the heart. It is also a very powerful anti-inflammatory.