The UK’s high cholesterol problem – does nature have the answer?

60% of UK adults have high cholesterol, with many on medication. Too much cholesterol in the blood can block your blood vessels and lead to a stroke or heart problems. Statins are among the most commonly prescribed medicines in the world, yet many people suffer from their side effects which include muscle pain and digestive problems. Could a natural solution be the answer?

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood. We all have cholesterol in our bodies which is produced by the liver, other cholesterol we get from food. We need it to stay healthy as it’s essential for every cell in our body.

Shona Wilkinson, one of the UK’s leading nutritionists says: “We need some cholesterol as it is found in every cell membrane structure. It is essential to make hormones, to help with metabolism and for our body to produce Vitamin D. The problem is when we have too much of it.”

The Good

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are known as ‘good’ cholesterol. Good cholesterol earns its nickname because it rids your body of the ‘bad’ cholesterol from your blood. It moves surplus cholesterol back to your liver, which then breaks it down so it can be passed out of your body.

The Bad

Non-high-density lipoproteins (non-HDL) is known as ‘bad’ cholesterol. Bad cholesterol has its nickname because when there is too much of it, it can build up inside the blood vessel walls. The surplus cholesterol can clog up our arteries, narrowing them and making it harder for blood to flow through. This can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Poor diet, not exercising enough, smoking, having too much body fat, especially around your middle and having diabetes can cause high cholesterol.

Having a high level of good (HDL) cholesterol can help keep levels of bad cholesterol down and remove it from your body.

The strikingly increased mortality in COVID-19 patients who have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease is linked to high tissue cholesterol levels.

Does nature have a better solution for reducing LDL – the “bad” cholesterol?

Phytosterols, or plant sterols, are a family of molecules related to cholesterol. They are found in the cell membranes of plants and play essential roles – similar to cholesterol.

Plant sterols have a similar structure to cholesterol and act by reducing the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Water-based products are the most efficient way for the body to absorb sterols.

While reducing your intake of unhealthy foods can help reduce your cholesterol, to lower your bad cholesterol even further, you can add phytosterols to your diet.

Nutritionist Shona Wilkinson says: “Most prescription medication stops the production of cholesterol totally. That can cause problems. Plant sterols work by reducing the amount, which is far better.”

Globally, health experts recommend consuming 2 grams of plant-based phytosterols per day to maintain a healthy cholesterol. Up until now, consuming 2g naturally has been difficult to achieve.

The Solution

Wiley’s Finest offers Bold Heart, a highly concentrated 2000 mg of pine tree sterols per serving, which delivers a simple solution to meeting daily sterol needs in an easy-to-use formula that is clinically tested to lower cholesterol.

By consuming a sachet of clinically tested Bold Heart per day, each containing 2g of pine tree sterols, customers can reduce their LDL Cholesterol by up to 10%. Additionally, consuming 2g of sterols in addition to a healthy diet, exercise and a prescribed statin has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels up to 40%.

While phytosterols have a proven benefit alone or in addition to prescription medication, even consumers eating high sterol-based foods such as legumes, oils, fruits and nuts, or sterol-fortified foods such as margarines, capsules and powders are still only getting less than half the amount (43%) of sterols recommended for daily intake to help lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Plant sterols are a natural, heart-healthy part of a diet rich in seeds, nuts, and whole grains. For years, formulators have struggled with getting an effective serving of sterols into a product in an absorbable and convenient way. As the only water-based sterol on the market, Bold Heart ensures you’re getting the beneficial amount of sterols you need, in a vegan solution for heart health.

Delivered in an on-the-go single serving and featuring non-GMO (genetically modified organism) North American pine tree sterols, each sachet is unflavoured and easily mixed with drinks, both hot and cold.

Wiley’s Finest Bold Heart

Vegan, cholesterol-reducing plant sterols
RRP: £29.99 (30 stick packs – 1 month’s supply) Special February offer of £22.49
Available from health shops, pharmacists and direct online from wileysfinest.co.uk