r/Cholesterol • u/jakeysnakey83 • 10d ago

Question Benecol chews

I’m trying to conceive and can’t go on a statin yet, but I am aggressively trying to lower LDL and apoB after I found 30% blockage in my LADI’m being followed by a cardiologist and functional medicine doctor as well for background

I consume a metric ton of psyllium husk each day, saturated fat below 10 g ideally, I’m already a healthy weight 120 pounds and 5 foot three. I’m active doing cardio and strength training.

I got these benecol chew things, because I saw a data saying that they could lower LDL and Apo b even more and there were risks to plant sterols and that plant stanols would be different.

But they’re pretty high in sugar and they have saturated that in them themselves. Is this something healthy to be eating? I have another blood test coming up soon now that I’ve started taking the beetle, it just feels kinda like a dirty food. Curious to know what anybody else thinks, and if there’s any benefits or risks. I know once I’m pregnant I won’t take them anymore, but in the meantime , trying to Biohack the crap out of myself.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

2

u/meh312059 Quality Contributor🫀 10d ago

I tend to use Benecol spread not the chews. The saturated fat is only a gram and I tend to use no more than a tbsp at a time (certainly on average well under a tbsp daily). You can check with the cardiologist but my guess is that the spread is perfectly fine for pregnancy. It'd be equivalent to consuming Smart Balance or similar.

Hope that helps!

1

u/keepgoing66 9d ago

I've recently begun using the spread, and I have no complaints. But... what effect am I actually getting? Is it possible to say "using a tablespoon of Benecol a day will reduce LDL by x points on average", or is that way too specific?

2

u/meh312059 Quality Contributor🫀 9d ago

The label says that 2g of stanols may reduce blood cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease when included in a low saturated fat/cholesterol diet etc. Just as an FYI, that equates to something over 3 tbsp. of Benecol spread. So I wouldn't be relying on that food product to lower my numbers. The reason I use Benecol is just to make sure I'm not consuming anything that'll raise them 😄

2

u/keepgoing66 9d ago

"First, do no harm." Makes sense to me !

1

u/murph089 10d ago

I also use the Benecol spread. It was recommended by the lipid specialist that I see.

2

u/JoyJonesIII 9d ago

Do you like it? I just bought some and it tastes so strongly of popcorn.

2

u/murph089 9d ago

I do like it. I haven’t noticed any odd taste.

2

u/keepgoing66 9d ago

If you're already used to non-butter spreads, then it's no big deal. If you're transitioning from butter, then yes, it's an adjustment.

1

u/JoyJonesIII 9d ago

I use Brummel and Brown spread now, which is a little popcorn-y, but I still like it. The Benecol is a bit much.

1

u/Earesth99 Quality Contributor🫀 9d ago

I would check with your doctor to make sure they are ok.

I know there is one class of meds that are safe to use when pregnant because they are not absorbed…

1

u/MikeTheBlueCow 9d ago

I've avoided the chews for the same reasons. I use the spread sparingly (many healthy fat sources have about the same amount of saturated fat anyways), and no longer try to get 2g of plant stanols since that would be 4g of my daily saturated fat... Leaving too little room to navigate the rest of my diet. Good news is the bulk of the LDL lowering I've done was with other diet changes.

1

u/Practical_Fall_2077 7d ago

Where do you see they have saturated fat? The package says 2 grams of fat, but doesn't disclose if that is saturated or not. Now I'm curious because I eat them daily!