An extract of the soy plant – sitosterol – is available in a product called Take Control (Lipton). And an extract of pine needles – sitostanol – is available in a similar product called Benechol (McNeil). Neither product tastes exactly like margarine and are unsuitable for cooking, but most people find them to be reasonably good to eat. Spreading 1 – 2 tablespoons of the spread on bread each day, as a substitute for margarine (and, of course, in combination with a low fat diet,) can reduce LDL cholesterol levels by up to 10%.
Click here for the FDA's press release on plant sterols.
