Christine, 71, shares how her cholesterol readings changed from 6.2 to 4.8 mmol/L over three months after adding Healthspan Plant Sterols to her routine.
🕒 4 min read
Mrs Christine Smith, 71, a retired local government officer, with three children and six grandchildren can't praise plant sterols enough.
"I have an underactive thyroid and take regular medication for it, which means I have a regular full blood count to monitor my health. Back in September 2022 following my usual routine blood test I was called back to the GP surgery because my cholesterol readings were high.
The doctor wanted me to go on statins immediately but I wasn't keen on the idea. Apart from levothyroxine for my thyroid I don't take any medications, and I didn't like what I'd read about the side effects of statins.
I've always had a good balanced diet - I'm not one for junk food or takeaways - so I wanted to try and get my cholesterol levels down naturally. The doctor agreed to give me three months. I was already taking Healthspan supplement for my joints so when I read that plant sterols could reduce cholesterol and found out they did a plant sterol supplement I decided it was worth a go.
How do plant sterols help lower cholesterol?
Healthspan Plant Sterols contain naturally occurring plant sterols, also known as phytosterols. These substances are found naturally in foods including fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds and have a similar structure to cholesterol.
Plant sterols help lower blood cholesterol by reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed in the gut. You can learn more about the mechanism, recommended intake and evidence in our guide to how plant sterols work to lower cholesterol.
"High levels of LDL cholesterol can increase the risk of heart problems," says Dr Hilary Jones, GP, Medical Advisor to Healthspan and a keen advocate for proactive heart health. "Plant sterols come from natural plant sources and can reduce cholesterol significantly in the bloodstream. They can also be taken alongside statins."
If you have been prescribed cholesterol-lowering medication, always follow the advice of your GP or healthcare professional and do not stop or change your medication without speaking to them first. You can also read our guide comparing plant sterols and statins.
"I'm so impressed by my results that I've become quite evangelical about Healthspan's plant sterols."
Christine’s cholesterol results
I took three a day for the three months and then went to get another blood test just five days before Christmas. I was surprised when the surgery didn't get back to me, so I called to check my records which showed my cholesterol levels had dropped significantly:
The verdict: "No further action needed."
The verdict? "No further action needed." I was over the moon. I now take two plant sterols a day - one morning and one evening. I've been on a diet for four months and lost around 12lbs. I've always kept active. Before I retired I was a keen netball player. Nowadays my husband and I are dog carers, which means I get out every day for walks. So I'm hoping my results will be even better next time I have a blood test.
I'm so impressed by my results that I've become quite evangelical about Healthspan's plant sterols. I even recommended them to my sister who also had high cholesterol, and she has had similarly great results.
For more information about cholesterol, diet and lifestyle, visit our Heart Health Hub.
According to the cholesterol charity HEART UK, these are the ideal readings for healthy adults (mmol/L):
- Total cholesterol: below 5.0
- LDL cholesterol: below 3.0
- HDL cholesterol: above 1.2 for women and above 1.0 for men
- Non-HDL cholesterol: below 4.0
Plant Sterols 800mg
Plant sterols have been shown to lower blood cholesterol
- 800mg of plant sterols per tablet
- Plant sterols have been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol
- Convenient daily tablet format
* Always follow your GP’s advice regarding prescription medicines.
** Plant sterols have been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease.
