Plant Sterols

Definition - What does Plant Sterols mean?

Plant sterols, or stanols, occur naturally in small amounts in grains, legumes, and other food crops.

Stanols are considered saturated sterols that have no double bonds in the sterol ring structure of the plant.

MaximumYield explains Plant Sterols

Plant sterols are the naturally occurring fats that are present in plants. There have been more than 200 different sterols and stanols identified.

All vegetables contain some sterols, usually ranging from 5 to 40 milligrams. Fruits contain slightly less, while the grain families of plants have a bit more. In some vegetables that contain lots of water, the amount of plant sterols can actually be increased through drying.

The average person receives about 250 milligrams of sterols through their daily diet, with vegetarians receiving 700 or more milligrams.

Plant sterols are often referred to as a plant’s form of healthy cholesterol and are present in vegetable oils, whole grain breads, and beans.

They have long been considered an alternative health benefit and are thought to be beneficial for reducing cholesterol in humans.

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