Are Logicol and ProActive are Rip-Off?

Both Logical and ProActive margarines have added plant sterols to lower cholesterol. The chemical added is beta-sitosterol.

Why are they added to margarine instead given as a medicine?

You ask your Dr. for valium…does he mix it into a tub of margarine and say “here, go home and eat this”?

If beta-sitosterol lowers cholesterol, why can’t we take it alone, by itself.

Here’s why !

+$0.10=

beta-sitosterol$6.00 tub of

$2.50 tub marglogical/ProAc

It’s all about money – you are being ripped off !

I had to source beta-sitosterol (in capsule form) from the USA.

Then I found an Australian manufacturer in Nimbin.

Then I discovered Article 2. Please read.

Article 3 shows rice bran oil has the highest beta-sitosterol of all.

You can buy Rice bran oil (hence beta sitosterol) in the boutique oil (flaxseed etc) section of Coles or Woolworths for $4.00 a half litre.

Dose to take

10ml (2 teaspoons) morning, noon and night. 30ml in all per day. It’s tasteless…....lowers your cholesterol like magic!

DO not take more than this. Overdose can cause heart palpitations.

Remember:

Article 1 Beta-Sitosterol

The April 25, 1994 Issue of Newsweek introduced to the world a new term - 'Phytochemicals', or plant chemicals, which are fast becoming the new research frontier in the war against many of the West's deadliest diseases. There have been literally thousands of studies and medical reports that attest to the effectiveness of these natural wonders in protecting health and preventing illness. Beta-sitosterol is one of these remarkable plant nutrients which scientific studies are proving to be a major, safe and non-toxic nutrient for the maintenance of health and for protection against many serious health disorders and diseases.

What is beta-sitosterol?

  • Beta-sitosterol is a natural micro-nutrient plant fat which is found in the cells and membranes of all oil producing plants, fruit, vegetables, grains, seeds and trees.
  • Chemically, sterols are very similar to the animal fat cholesterol, but they are totally different in their biological function.
  • In their natural state, sterols are bound to the fibres of plants, and for this reason, they are difficult to absorb during digestion, particularly in the case of older people.
  • In addition, the way we process food today, especially the refining processes in the food industry, is aimed at making products more appealing to the palate and eye. These processes remove fibres and sterols from food thus rendering it less nutritious.
  • Further, food preparation today, whether in the storage process, freezing, excessive boiling, additives and preservatives impact negatively on the nutritional value of our daily diet.
  • All these factors contribute to an insufficient supply of Beta-sitosterol in our bodies. Because humans do not synthesize or produce sterols in the body and its elimination rate is relatively fast, it is necessary to replace the daily loss by daily intake.
  • In a "healthy" diet, it means that the daily turnover of sterols is equal to its absorption.
  • Likewise, insufficient dietary intake of sterols can rapidly result in deficient pool sizes in the body, which we assume would result in a deterioration of health and in particular, the immune system and other key systems and functions of the body.
  • Plant sterols are believed to be the only natural, non-toxic substance scientifically proven to safely activate the body's T-cells which control the immune system's response to infection and cancerous cells

The Importance of a Daily Intake of beta-sitosterol

  • We have always known that plenty of fruits and vegetables are good for us. It is only in the last decade that the health benefits of plant nutrients or phytonutrients like beta-sitosterol are being truly realized.
  • Scientific research has shown that patients on diets devoid of plant sterols rapidly became free of beta-sitosterol (Metabolism of beta-sitosterol in man. J. Clin. Invest., 49, 952-967, 1970) which implies that these nutrients should to be taken daily for optimal functioning of the immune system and health generally.
  • Immune System Modulation - International Journal Of Immunopharmacology 1996
  • Importance Of Sterols - South African Journal Of Science 1997
  • Our diets today generally do not include enough fresh fruits and vegetables to provide an adequate amount of beta-sitosterol to enhance the immune system and maintain other systems and functions of our bodies naturally.
  • Natural plant sterol supplements such as beta-sitosterol complex, can provide optimal levels of sterols to ensure that we are always protected

Beta-sitosterol is natural, safe to use and non-toxic

  • Beta-sitosterol has been proven to be a safe, natural and effective nutritional supplement and has shown amazing potential benefits in many diverse applications.
  • Beta-sitosterol has been extensively tested in clinical trials involving over 25,000 patients with no known toxicity or adverse drug events. Press Release 1997
  • Beta-sitosterol can also be safely used by competing athletes.
  • Plant sterols can safely be used in conjunction with conventional therapies.

Beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosterol glucoside stimulate human peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation: Implications for their use as an immunomodulatory vitamin combination.

Author: Bouic, P.J.D.; Etsebeth, S.; Liebenberg, R.W.; Albrecht, C.F.; Pegel, K.; Van Jaarsveld, P.P.
Source: International Journal of Immunopharmacology, vol. 18, no. 12, pp. 693-700, Dec. 1996

This study reports on a series of in vivo and in vitro studies which clearly demonstrate that the plant sterols and sterolins (B-Sitosterol and its glucoside, B-sitosterolin) have immunomodulatory properties. The first experiment performed in vitro demonstrated that sterols and sterolins had a significant proliferative effect on human T-cells. The effect was observed in extremely low concentrations of sterol/sterolins on the order of 1 fentogram which represents only 150 molecules of sterol and 10 molecules of sterolin. The best response was obtained when a 100:1 sterol/sterolin mixture was given. The same study was repeated on a small number of human subjects (8) indicating a T-cell proliferative response from 20% to 920% after 4 weeks on the sterol/sterolin mixture. No increase was observed for the 2 subjects receiving placebos. The peak activity of the sterol/sterolin mixture occurred at 6 hours in the in vitro experiments, indicating an effect in the initial stages of T-cell proliferation and activation of membrane antigens. Another in vitro experiment showed significant increase in the cyokines (immune communication molecule) interleukin-2 and gamma-interferon on the order between 17% and 41%. Another in vitro experiment showed increase in Natural Killer Cell activity for the lysis of experimental cancer cells with the sterol/sterolin mixture. Although sterols and sterolins are poorly absorbed and are not synthesized in the human body, daily intake is required to maintain an optimal immune response. These experiments prove that a 100:1 sterol/sterolin mixture is a potent immunomodulator with important implications for the treatment and restoration of immune dysfunctions.

The importance of sitosterol and sitosterolin in human and animal nutrition

Author: Karl H. Pegel, Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, University of Natal , Durban , South Africa . Source: South African Journal of Science, v. 93, pp. 263-268, June 1997

Recent research indicates that the health-promoting benefits of a plant-based diet may be due to the presence of plant-derived cholesterol analogues known as sterols and sterolins. These compounds which are structurally similar to cholesterol are ubiquitous throughout the plant kingdom. Although absorbed at a rate 800 to 1,000 less than cholesterol, they appear to have important immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities in human and animal physiology. Human research indicates plant sterols and sterolins to have important anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer and T-cell proliferative activity. Medical uses already include the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, benign prostatic hypertrophy and rheumatoid arthritis. Plant sterols and sterolins are thought to be responsible for the health benefits of a variety of medicinal herbs including saw palmetto, pygeum, pumpkin seeds, devil's claw, milk thistle, ginkgo, Panax and Siberian ginseng. They have adaptogenic properties which make them an essential part of an optimal diet. Modern food processing and dietary choices have resulted in daily intake less than the optimal 200-300 mg. Even some vegetarian diets appear to result in a deficient quantity of plant sterols and sterolins. Supplementation of the diet with plant sterols and sterolins provides important therapeutic as well as preventative health benefits.

Plant sterols and sterolins for maintaining the immune system

After ten years of clinical trials in immune modulation, HIV and tuberculosis by researchers at the University of Stellenbosch Medical Faculty (led by Professor Bouic, Dept. Medical Microbiology and his colleagues in other departments), research data has satisfied peer reviews and is now enjoying publication in international scientific journals. The company sponsoring the research, has for many years been convinced of the immunomodulatory effects of sterols and sterolins if used in the correct ratio of a 100:1. Clinical trials in pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV positive patients have proved this.

The HIV positive patients maintain their immune cells over an extended period of time with no overt signs of disease progression whilst the TB patients recover from the disease more quickly. Many anecdotal cases of autoimmune disease (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systematic Lupus Erythematosus, Psoriasis) as well as certain cancers and diseases relating to a dysfunctional immune system, have been reported to have dissipated after the ingestion of sterols and sterolins.

The effect of the phytosterols on the human system offer several advantages in that they have no toxicity and have been extensively tested in animal studies as well as human clinical trials in over 25 000 patients with no adverse drug events or toxicity. They are also relatively inexpensive and can be used in conjunction with conventional therapies. It has been found that by taking sterols and sterolins, the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation may be prevented or greatly reduced. The sterols and sterolin mixture is internationally patented and will be made available to the international market as soon as possible.

Compiled by:

Prof Patrick J D Bouic
Chief Special Scientist / Head Immunology
Department of Medical Microbiology
University of Stellenbosch

Prostate gland disorders are probably the most common of health disorders in men affecting more than 65 % of men over the age of 40 and 75% of men over 50. The prostate gland is susceptible to infection, enlargement, benign tumors and cancer.

It is important to address prostate disorders early to prevent serious problems developing. Unfortunately many men wait too long to do something about it, because it begins very quietly and progresses very slowly.

Numerous scientific studies show that Beta-sitosterol, which is a little known naturally occurring plant fat, is among the most effective treatments for prostate enlargement known. It has a faster onset of action and none of the adverse side effects which are associated with conventional medicines, and it is also less expensive.

Beta-sitosterol helps to reduce prostate symptoms and prostate size and is now being used effectively to treat BPH conditions including: failure to urinate, nocturnal urination, frequent urination, residual urine, abdominal heaviness, voiding volume, prostate volume and peak flow.

Beta-sitosterol has also been shown in very recent studies, to inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells in the laboratory.

Our diets today, generally do not include enough vegetables, whole foods, seeds and grains to provide an adequate amount of beta-sitosterol to protect us against prostate problems naturally.

Natural plant beta-sitosterol supplements can provide optimal levels of sterols to ensure that we are always protected.

How can beta-sitosterol help prostate disorders

Numerous scientific studies have shown Beta-sitosterol to be among the most effective treatments for prostate enlargement known.

For centuries, saw palmetto berries and other plant species including African pygeum, stinging nettle, pumpkin seeds, rye pollen and star grass have been used in patients with prostate and urinary problems.

The remarkable connection in all traditionally used plant remedies for prostate disorders is the beta-sitosterol complex.

Recent studies have found beta-sitosterol to have a faster onset of action and no adverse side effects compared with conventional drugs, and it is now used effectively to treat BPH conditions including: failure to urinate, nocturnal urination, frequent urination, residual urine, abdominal heaviness, voiding volume, prostate volume and peak flow.

Scientists have shown that beta-sitosterol helps to reduce prostate enlargement and symptoms as follows:

  • It inhibits 5-alpha-reductase so that testosterone cannot be converted to DHT.
  • It displays an antiestrogenic activity in prostatic tissue.
  • It strongly decreases hormone binding globulin which means that DHT cannot exert the negative effect in normally would.
  • It lowers blood cholesterol and some researchers believe that high cholesterol is an important factor stimulating prostate growth.
  • It appears to play a role in inhibiting the growth of human prostate cancer cells by replacing some of the cell membrane's cholesterol, which changes the membrane lipid composition in such a way that it enhances an intracellular signaling system which tells cells not to divide.

Note: Please see the sections towards the end of this article for further scientific studies and references.

Our diets today generally do not include enough fresh vegetables and whole foods to provide an adequate amount of beta-sitosterol to enhance the immune system and manage the problem of BPH naturally.

Natural plant sterol supplements can provide optimal levels of sterols to ensure that we are always protected.

What are the signs of a prostate disorder?

  • Symptoms may include any or all of the following:
  • Need to urinate frequently, especially at night
  • Sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate
  • Decreased force and size of urinary stream
  • Frequent dribbling
  • Inability to urinate (difficulty starting or stopping)
  • Aching pain in the area of the prostate
  • Pain on sitting
  • A burning sensation or pain when urinating
  • Blood in urine
  • Continuing pain in lower back, pelvis, or upper thighs
  • Chills and fever are often present
  • Reduced sexual ability
  • Painful orgasm
  • Impotence
  • Discomfort during intercourse.

Prostate disorders affect most men over 40!

  • 60% men over 40 and 75% of men over 50 are likely to have a prostate disorder.
  • Over 330,000 men in the UK go to their GPs each year for help and many more suffer in silence.
  • Prostate enlargement, known as 'benign prostatic hyperplasia' or BPH can lead to impotence and other urinary complications.
  • The majority of drug and surgical treatments for the prostate have adverse side effects, and many of them can be quite serious.
  • Over 30,000 prostatectomy operations are carried out in the UK each year.
  • Surgery for prostate disease can be debilitating and dangerous, some studies have found 70% of men suffer from impotence and 40% of men become incontinent as a result of surgery
  • Prostate cancer, which accounts for 10,000 deaths annually, is rising at an alarming rate and is the most common cancer in men, with an average lifetime risk of 1 in 12 men. This is expected to triple to 1 in 4 men within the next 20 years.
  • Despite this, prostate cancer and prostate disorders generally, still have a low level of public awareness.
  • Many cases of prostate cancer go undetected until it has spread to the bone and lymphatic system. By the age of 50, it is estimated that 35% of men have cancer cells in their prostate gland.

What is the prostate?

The Prostate gland lies at the base of the bladder in men and is about the size of a walnut. It shaped like a donut and encircles the male urinary tract, which is the urinary passage carrying urine from the bladder.

Due to its location, if it becomes inflamed or enlarged it can cause blockage of the bladder outlet and restrict urinary flow

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system and is made up of millions of tiny glands as well as muscle and fibrous tissue.

These small glands are stimulated by the hormone androgen and secrete a nutritious fluid which helps in the transportation of healthy semen.

The prostate is vital to proper bladder control and urine flow-rate control.

The prostate is also essential for normal sexual function. It is the gland of ejaculation, supplying 95% of the seminal fluid, plus the power to expel it through the urethra and out of the penis.

Prostate size often increases with age, particularly once a man gets over the age of 40.

Because the urethra runs right through the middle of it and it has a fibrous outer skin, growth of the prostate puts inward pressure on the urethra and will squeeze it and begin to choke off the urinary flow.

If left untreated, the obstruction becomes more severe and may result in serious changes in the urinary bladder, urethra and kidneys, and may perpetuate urinary tract infections

Why does benign prostatic hyperplasla (BPH), occur in men aged 40 and over?

Testosterone, which is a male sex hormone and is important for many male related characteristics, undergoes certain hormonal changes that occur with age, when men reach their 40's and over.

The pituitary gland begins to increase the production a hormone called prolactin and prolactin causes the production of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase.

When the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme starts reactivating, it begins to convert the already declining levels of testosterone into excessive amounts of dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

Dihydrotesterone is a potent substance known as an androgen, which causes the prostate cells to swell, resulting in an enlarged prostate.