Benecol: Hi all, I have felt rubbish... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Benecol

17 Replies

Hi all,

I have felt rubbish all day from over doing it yesterday and the heat today.

I have been shopping tonight and found the benecol yogurt drinks in the fridge area. They say on the back that aswell as improving cholesterol they have been proven to improve heart function too.

Just wondered if anyone else uses them and have noticed a difference?

They are expensive, but every little helps (excuse the pun).

Hope your all ok with this heat.

Nat x

17 Replies

I was told by two different GPs that they are a waste of money when I asked if they'd help with my cholesterol can't speak for the heart bit. There are lots of natural foods that claim to be good for heart health many of which I have eaten regularly for most of my life yet here I am on the bhf forum so they didn't offer me a deal of protection. I'm not saying they don't have benefits but I do know that companies have no qualms about profiting from other peoples misery.

skid112 profile image
skid112Heart Star

Hi there, whilst the claim for the natural benefits of these and other items, such as the spreads, have some truth in them, the amount you would have to consume to get any benefit is off the chart.

Search for natural plant sterols to find food that already has this in, oats, barley, beans and aubergine to name a few. However, it only helps the LDL not the HDL cholesterol.

Save your money buy porridge.

Mark

Desanthony profile image
Desanthony in reply to skid112

I have eaten porridge and all types of bran most of my life too and I am here. I think a lot might be to do with genetics and of course just getting older sometimes too.

Zena166 profile image
Zena166

Hi Nat as Mark says stick to natural foods. I am really and utterly sad in that I eat raw oats 2-3 times per day. I add a touch of cold water and add a soy yogurt. Delicious. And when I had all my different allergies I was off statins for 3 months and my LDL stayed at 1.0 I eat the oats as a desert as well only I add chocolate soy yogurt as opposed to plain. Who said being Vegan was boring!!! Take care Zena x

Andie1975 profile image
Andie1975 in reply to Zena166

Haha same here, since going plant based I've gained a new addiction of raw jumbo oats, water and flaxseed with little bit chopped banana and peach. Can't get enough of the stuff! I could eats oats for every meal at the moment. I've never thought of soy yoghurt might try that.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Just take care that they're not full of artificial additives. I was eating supposedly 'healthy' yogurts which were full of artificial sweeteners. I blame these artificial sweeteners for causing my AF. My body was overloaded with them, in my tea, diet lemonade, sugar free gum etc. It's a sure trigger for my AF.

Jean

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

About fifteen years ago I was under pressure to start taking statins not because of cholesterol levels but because I am diabetic. It was agreed that I could try changing things myself. One of the things I tried was taking Benecol. This dropped my cholesterol by just over 10%. With other changes the drop could be higher but unlikely enough for those with seriously raised cholesterol, say 6 - 12. As Mark says there is more benefit per £ eating oats!

gal4God profile image
gal4God

I’ve used Floria and olive oil spreads and found its lowered my cholesterol. There’s a lot of oils and spreads that are Heart healthy yet the most popular cooking oils and spreads aren’t heart healthy. As I love cream crackers with spreads on it alone I’m not into cheese I don’t always buy the same spreads but make sure they are Heart healthy. My main issue is with junk food tho.

in reply to gal4God

I’m all for junk food, crisps, icecream & takeaways. I was on slimming world and not far off my 3stone award before my diagnosis and have since turned to food again and put on half a stone grrrr.

I am now back in sw but doing it on my own and on day 2, i need good food x

gal4God profile image
gal4God in reply to

I agree wen I have heart issues I turn to junk food.

in reply to gal4God

Its silly isn’t it as it only makes us more lethargic. I have battled with my weight for years and getting the news about heart failure just sent me spiralling out of control with food x

gal4God profile image
gal4God in reply to

I’ve never has weight issues but been underweight because of my heart condition and used it as an excuse growing up cos I couldn’t cope with my heart condition and grown to love junk food

in reply to gal4God

That must be difficult too, we only crave the bad stuff x

Grayjay profile image
Grayjay

Nuts!!!!

If you are ok with them eat Almonds or Walnuts. They have brought my cholesterol down in the past. I use almonds and have abut 30 i.e 1 and 1/2 ounces per day.

Williams72 profile image
Williams72

Hi Nat, I have just joined this site, and saw that you have the same condition , so thought we can get tips & advice a d have a good old nag together 🙋

I was diagnosed just over seven years ago.

I also have a mutation in one of my genes( Bag3). So need to have an ICD in Jan sometime.

Hope your keeping as well as can be, kind regards Yvette

in reply to Williams72

Aww hi Yvette, i am keeping quite well at the mo or so i think so.

I am struggling with my weight and i feel its from my ramapril or could be sertraline that i take but keep walking the dog so I don’t turn into a balloon lol.

Do you have to have your icd because of your cardiomyopathy or because of your other problem? X

Williams72 profile image
Williams72

Hi Nat, I've just posted you a reply but can't see it 😂😂

Oh well jus wanted to reply before trying to sleep with my throat so dry from meds . Yeh I'm having the ICD because of the bag 3 mutation what a bloody name bag 3 😳

Will hopefully chat soon, have a great Xmas

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