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British Heart Foundation Endorses Oats and Plant Sterols to Lower LDL Cholesterol

This advice positions dietary fibre intake as an add-on, not a replacement, to prescribed statin treatment.

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Cardiologists Name Two Foods That Lower Cholesterol Just Like Statins

Overview

  • High cholesterol affects about 40% of UK adults and often shows no symptoms but increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes without regular blood tests.
  • Oat beta-glucan forms a gel in the gut that binds bile acids to block cholesterol absorption, and daily intakes of 3 to 3.5 grams can lower LDL by roughly 4–12% within weeks.
  • Plant sterols and stanols compete with dietary cholesterol for intestinal uptake, with 2 to 3.3 grams consumed each day linked to LDL reductions of about 6–12% over a month.
  • The British Heart Foundation and the Association of UK Dietitians now officially recommend these dietary fibres alongside statins rather than as standalone treatments.
  • Experts advise pairing these foods with healthy lifestyle changes, regular cholesterol screening, and prescribed medication for a comprehensive approach to silent hypercholesterolemia.