Plant Sterols? In OTC products no

[BeavertonGarry]

Let me start by saying I’m 49yr 5’6" currently 170lbs. All my life I’ve been 195-210lbs since I was in high school. Always overweight (highest 222lbs) but without any health issues. My current Dr is 30’s and we’ve been together for about a year+. He’s not the typical Quincey.

During my recent visit to my Doctor to request some blood work, we briefly touched on my new Keto diet.(started 6/17 @200lbs needing to lose 20lbs for Hernia Surgery 8/17)

Dr: So what are you doing…eating butter sticks?
Me: No not quite yet lol…Im still following the Diet plan the Hernia Centre gave me which we talked about last time I saw you… Everyday I’m having 3 fried eggs and cheese/bacon etc for breakfast, that kinda thing.
Dr: Why do you want blood work? We just did it back in June and everything was good. I have no issue with your new diet. (I have no health issues)
Me: I just want to make sure I’m not doing anything detrimental to my normally healthy body.
Dr: Nahhh…I’m not concerned about it. Its not going to kill you. Let’s wait until say around May to retest your blood. This way we have a full year to assess your new choices and any impact.
Just so we’re clear…you know we as Doctors are supposed to be recommending the Mediterranean diet…The only thing I would recommend to you, is if you can, try to limit the saturated fat intake…and consider using this product. It has plant Sterols and can help keep your cholesterol in check with what you’re doing.
Me: Ok sure, I’ll look into it and go from there. Thanks for the suggestion.
Dr: It’s been good seeing you again.

So…What do you guys think about this product my open-minded doctor suggests? From what I gather it’s only a topping for veggies or keto breads etc. Not made for any cooking/freezing.

Becel® pro.activ®

[Madeleine]

Ingredients look dreadful- canola oil etc. I would stay far away. Also the whole recommendation is made based on bad info about saturated fats (I think… I skimmed your post but am on my phone and can’t scroll up while I’m writing…).

[Baytowvin]

What would the benefit be over using real butter?

[BeavertonGarry]

My understanding from the Dr (and doing my own research) is that plant Sterols can reduce your cholesterol levels by 15% if consuming 2Grams of Sterols/day. To get that many Sterols from greens etc, we would have to eat a dumptruck worth of spinach/etc.
The ingredients in the “margarine” are concerning, but do the benefits of these Sterols outweight the risks of the less than ideal ingredients?
Would you guys “Add” it to your diet? I’m not suggesting replacing anything, as I’m fine with butter, lard etc…but just wondering if it’s beneficial or detrimental to what were all doing here. I’m 60% negative 40% positive on it…and wondering what the community thinks.

[Capnbob]

I haven’t researched plant sterols but the normal result of keto is to improve all the important cholesterol markers (HDL up, Trig down) and the LDL becomes large and fluffy and hence not dangerous at almost any level (and certainly above the artificially reduced standards designed to drive the prescription of statins).

Remember, cholesterol DOES NOT cause CVD, it is found at the site of CVD issues (in plaques with calcium and fibrin) because it is trying to repair damage from the chronic inflammation of hyperinsulinemia. Keto removes the inflammation so between improving the lipids and reducing the core issue for most CVD you will be doing great regardless of your LDL levels.

[Duncan_K]

That stuff is called Flora in the UK

Enjoy : http://www.zoeharcombe.com/2013/01/the-british-heart-foundation-flora-pro-activ-an-unhealthy-relationship/

[LeCheffre]

You probably don’t need to lower your cholesterol with natural sterols. You were fine and you’re keto so you’re probably better now.

It’s good that he’s not concerned enough to want to run a lipid panel. Are you in an HMO/managed care situation. That would explain it. My doc loves to run my blood. PPO/Fee for service.

[Capnbob]

At best, Sterols look like a ‘hack’. Their effect is to ‘compete with cholesterol to lower absorption of LDL’. Absorbtion into what… the bloodstream - where they magically fur your arteries and kill you? Sheesh (if you are on keto)! People with lower serum cholesterol apparently die sooner than those with more (all cause mortality).

It seems very unlikely that this hack has any benefit and given that the plant sterol ‘fortification’ is added to the worst foods like margarine (Omega 6 poison spread) and orange juice (toxic sugar liquid) it sounds like the negatives definitely outweigh the improbable benefits.

[Madeleine]

That stuff is called Flora in the UK

Enjoy : http://www.zoeharcombe.com/2013/01/the-british-heart-foundation-flora-pro-activ-an-unhealthy-relationship/

Wow

So, basically @BeavertonGarry - don’t go near the stuff!

[BeavertonGarry]

@LeCheffre
I’m in Canada so you could call it managed healthcare…however at anytime, doctors can order any test they feels is necessary to manage their patients care…(even if that test was just done a few months earlier).
I’m confident that if he thought I needed it today, he would do it…as he gave me the actual “May” blood test requisition forms before I left his office.(To save me a return trip) for the tests including a new Hepititus C blood test (apparently now required/recommended by Health Canada).

[Baytowvin]

If the only benefit is lowering cholesterol, and we already know that doctors (in general), don’t have a clue how cholesterol works, then to me there are no updisdes, only down.

[LeCheffre]

Yeah, here in the US, HMO docs have a cost mandate. FFS ones don’t. So HMOs tend to under order tests and it’s really hard to get an expensive test like the one where they look at your cholesterol types, rather than the standard lipid panel. PPO/FFS have an incentive structure to order extra stuff.

We have a dumb system.

[BeavertonGarry]

@Duncan_K

Thank you for the link. You’ve made my decision easy for me.
No Plant Sterols.

Thanks to all of you for your input. I sincerely appreciate it.