Allestra Plant Sterol & Allicin
Introduction
Although it is not the only major risk factor, raised blood cholesterol is without a doubt linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Most doctors suggest cholesterol levels should be 5.0mmol/l or under, and for those who have, or are at risk of coronary heart disease, the target should be no higher than 4.0mmol/l.
Medical laboratories subdivide total cholesterol measurement into several components, including LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, which is directly linked to heart disease, and HDL (“good”) cholesterol, which is protective. The ratio between HDL and LDL is currently considered more important than total cholesterol, with the greatest risk for heart disease being too much of one or not enough of another. Diet and lifestyle are the first things that can be changed to help maintain a healthy cholesterol reading. There are also several effective dietary supplements in the cholesterol-lowering department with ALLESTRA™ - a combination of beta-sitosterol and allicin – being one of the most effective on the market.
What is beta-sitosterol?
Beta-sitosterol is one of a number of plant-derived sterol compounds that alone and in combination with similar plant sterols, reduces blood cholesterol. (1, 2, 3) Its close chemical resemblance to cholesterol enables it to block the absorption of cholesterol by competitive inhibition. Numerous studies have documented the beneficial actions of phytosterols on cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol) concentrations, in daily doses of 250 mg to 600 mg. ALLESTRA™ contains 250 mg of beta-sitosterol per capsule.
Clinicial References
1. Lees AM, Mok HYI, Lee RS, et al. Plant sterols as cholesterol-lowering agents: clinical trials in patients with hypercholesterolemia and studies of sterol balance. Atherosclerosis 1977;28:325-38. 2. Pelletier X, Belbraouet S, Mirabel D, et al. A diet moderately enriched in phytosterols lowers plasma cholesterol concen-trations in normo cholesterolemic humans. Ann Nutr Metab 1995;39:291-5. 3. Jones PJ, Raeini-Sarjaz M, Ntanios FY, et al. Modulation of plasma lipid levels and cholesterol kinetics by phytosterol versus phytostanol esters. J Lipid Res 2000;41:697-705. The renowned Health Sciences Institute monthly newsletter has recently covered Allestra™ in detail. The editorial classes Allestra™ as a “revolutionary new cholesterol-lowering formula that offers vital protection for your heart”
Other benefits of ALLESTRA™
The active ingredients in ALLESTRA™ have other benefits too. They help modulate immune function, inflammation and pain levels through their effects on controlling cytokine production – substances involved in the inflammatory process. This modulation may also help reduce allergic reactions and prostate enlargement.
What is allicin?
The sulphur-containing compound allicin has a paradoxical story. It comes from garlic, yet although there are at least 33 sulphur compounds in fresh garlic, there is no allicin! If this sounds contradictory, this is because allicin is only created when garlic is cut or crushed. Allicin is produced when a compound in garlic called alliin reacts with an enzyme also in garlic called allinase. The transformation of alliin into the allicin molecule with the aid of allinase is extremely rapid, completed in seconds. However, as soon as this enzyme reacts with the alliin it dies away and the allicin begins to degrade into other sulphur-containing compounds (such as allitridium and ajoene).
How does ALLESTRA™ work?
Both the beta-sitosterol and allicin in ALLESTRA™ are thought to work by blocking the absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol (cholesterol produced in the body) during the normal digestive process in the small intestine. Allicin is also capable of inhibiting the oxidation of cholesterol, which causes it to become “sticky” and form plaque in artery walls. Being an antioxidant, allicin prevents this oxidation and free radical damage, reducing the amount of deposited cholesterol and making it easier for it to be excreted from the body.
Daily Dose
For people with moderately raised cholesterol the ALLESTRA™ dose is one capsule per day with meals. In those with a cholesterol level above 6.5mmol/l, two or three capsules should be taken daily in divided doses. ALLESTRA™ may take a little longer to work than conventional medication, so a minimal three-month course is recommended before its effectiveness is assessed. ALLESTRA™ is unlikely to interfere with pharmaceutical medications, although if you are on existing prescription drugs you may wish to check with your GP before use.
Case Study - Click Here for UK Study Results
New UK research confirms significant cholesterol reductions using Allestra™ only Volunteers were recruited from all over the UK in this Springtime to take part in an open diet controlled study to see just how efficient Allestra™ was at reducing cholesterol – naturally! Everyone who was recruited had a raised cholesterol and had been advised to try and reduce the levels of this potentially harmful blood fat. Volunteers were asked to either do a self assessed cholesterol level using a standard cholesterol finger prick test – or to get their local GP to do a fasting cholesterol test. All volunteers were then asked to take up to 3 capsules of Allestra™ every day for 42 days when they were retested. Figure 1 shows the results for every volunteer.
Where to buy ALLESTRA™
is available from fine Health Stores across Canada - for further information please contact CLM Health Inc. Toll-free on 1-877-263-7330 |
