Plant Stanol Yoghurt Drinks

In an effort to further reduce my cholesterol (in particular non HDLs) I've been taking a daily plant stanol yoghurt drink (Tesco Apricot and Peach!) for the last 6 weeks or so. This is in addition to Atorvastatin 80mg. Apparently I should expect a 7-12% reduction on non HDLs, which in my case could be of the order of 0.3mmol/l, perhaps more, so it's maybe worth having. At the present time I have no idea whether it's made any difference to me, since my annual test isn't due until August, so I wondered what others may have noticed when they started to take these drinks. Has it made a quantifiable difference before and after they started? Finally as an aside I steer clear of low fat spreads with or without stanols.

[RufusScamp]

In my opinion, you would do better to increase your fruit and vegetable intake and get plenty of exercise.

[lettingoffsteam]

Well my cholesterol is lower than it was although it was 4.5 so no statins. It is now 3.4 but I also gave up meat, eat a plant based diet and exercise regularly. The way I see it is that I do what I can.

[Mentdent]

If you only require a minimal cholesterol reduction diet can help a little bit but any really significant drop usually requires the dreaded statins. The good news is that most people don’t have nasty side effects

[Hidden]

Dear LowerField

I really think that you are on right track with looking into anything that you can use to help drop that cholesterol level.

I have no idea if the plant stanols will be of any use in that fight but they can only be good for your system { depending what is wrapped around them and how the yogurt is made }

But I salute you in taking interest in your illness and fighting it the best you can.

I am also on 80mg of a know statin but my cholesterol is below average {always has been} so I am taking them for a different reason.

Take care and keep up that fight

[pasigal]

In addition to huge doses of statins (atorvastatin 80/ezimitibe 10), I do eat a lot of Danacol and dietary fiber (porridge/grains/psyllium). I have no idea how much the dietary inputs might or might not lower my cholesterol, and to do so would require a complicated control, i.e. changing diet/get blood test/reintroduce foods...but I do so largely bc it gives me a sense of control.

[Hidden in reply to pasigal]

My natural cholesterol level was found to be nearly 10 over 20 years ago. Through rigorous and challenging diet management I managed to get it down to about 6.5. I enjoy eating good healthy food in moderation but the new diet changed that for me. I really didn't get on with it. So inevitably my cholesterol crept back up as I relaxed things over time. Therefore the GP put me on statins and my cholesterol dropped to under 6 which at the time was considered to be OK, and I have been on statins ever since, although I am now on the max dose due to a HA four years ago.

[Hidden]

Thanks to all those who have commented so far. For the record I have a very varied diet which includes plenty of fruit and veg, but I do eat some meat although not in large quantities. I also avoid saturated fat, but not to the point of complete exclusion. And I am quite happy with things as they are. I also take plenty of exercise including daily planned walks and cycle rides on top of other activities, and have recently upped that to lose weight.

Furthermore I am also in the group who has to take a statin due to very high natural cholesterol levels probably due to the genetic link, since I share this with other members of my family, so even with max dose statin my cholesterol is not particularly low compared to others who don't have this affliction to contend with.

[Hidden]

Thanks. I like to think my diet is very varied and healthy, with everything in moderation. But when I say I avoid saturated fat I mean typically I cut the fat off meat or avoid fatty cuts of meat altogether, am sparing with cheese intake, don't drink full fat milk, never touch cream and don't slather butter on everything. But I do usually eat a small quantity butter daily in preference to those awful low fat spreads, am a meat eater, and will have saturated fat in my diet from other sources like full fat yoghurt for breakfast on fruit, yum.

[GC7C]

Hi. I used to take plant sterol tablets to lower my cholesterol and they worked for a couple of years and then suddenly the level went up, as if I'd got used to them. So now it's stating which haven't caused any side effects.

[PeterpPiper]

Enjoy the yoghurt if you like them but to be honest they won’t make much difference. In general it’s a good idea to reduce your carbs which will also regulate weight. The atorvastatin 80mg will be doing enough for you.

[lettingoffsteam]

Well my doctor said that my levels were spot on so I'll go with that I think.

[Hidden]

An odd choice if you have any form of heart disease, but each to their own 😀