UHP foods and cholesterol

Plant sterols from products like Benecol do work to reduce your cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption but only if you consume a lot of them. So if your diet contains a lot of butter which you switch out for benecol spread it’s likely to help. If not, it won’t do much.

Reducing cholesterol through diet is all about the ratio of fats that you eat. You want less saturated fat and more unsaturated fats. www.bda.uk.com/resource/cholesterol.html

Consuming less ultra-processed foods is a way of improving your diet quality overall, but again, it’s only going to be a big difference if you already consume a lot of those foods.

Thanks August Day, that is helpful. I think I might finish up the drinks and spread I’ve bought but not get any more.

You can buy a natural sterol supplement instead.

GP's, in general have no training at all in dietetics and just utter standard mantras, with out any idea about whether they work or not. I sometimes think they just parrot whatever they have seen on the front page of a popular newspapers.

Where can I buy the natural stuff, Sago?

Ultra processed people is a fabulous and very informative book.
Unfortunately our GPs must advise what the NHS advise which is at least 20 years out if date.
Therefore they will advise low fat foods, sliced ham etc ..all ultra processed foods stuffed with additives you really don't want for good health.
I am not a doctor but I do take my health seriously and avoid any "foods" which profess low fat, high protein, no added sugar etc. Look at the back of the packet and generally you will find a long list of additives and chemicals.
Just be sensible. Don't over eat. When you do try to eat the rainbow to get good nutrition. Reduce the amount of cheese and butter but don't replace them with ultra processed replacement products . Good luck .

Good advice Happygirl79 - having just finished the book I’m inclined to dump the drinks and spread in the bin. They’re full of additives.