MCT
Product: Promise activ SuperShots, $3.99 for a four-pack of mini drinks (100 ml each).
Key ingredients: 2 grams of natural plant sterols per serving, cultured nonfat milk, fruit puree (depending on flavor), sugar.
The pitch: Clinically proven to actively remove cholesterol as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
How it works: Receptors in the intestines latch onto sterols as if they were cholesterol and let real cholesterol slip through the digestive system unabsorbed. Instead of clogging up arteries, the cholesterol goes out with the waste.
ADVERTISEMENT
Pros: Results from several trials suggest that eating two grams of plant sterols a day lowers LDL cholesterol levels by 9 percent to 20 percent. It would take about 100 pounds of fruit, vegetables and nuts to get 2 grams of natural plant sterols. A recent study from the University of California Davis Medical Center found that people who drank sterol-fortified orange juice dropped their LDL cholesterol levels by 12.4 percent after just two weeks.
Cons: Some doctors and nutritionists say people are better off getting their nutrients from whole foods because they have a complex combination of nutrients that work together in ways we don't fully understand. The American Heart Association doesn't recommend sterol-fortified food for everyone; it suggests that only people who need to lower their cholesterol or who have had a heart attack should use sterols. One possible side effect worries some: Sterols appear to keep vitamins A, E, D, K and beta-carotene from being absorbed.
Bottom line: If you're worried about your cholesterol, these yogurt "shots" are worth a try. Also look for sterol-fortified margarine spreads, orange juice, cereals and granola bars, but go for "lite" versions that don't contain trans fats.
