A new research by Finnish companies Raisio and Valio claims that a stanol-rich cheese could reduce cholesterol by over five percent. The facts published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports about the benefits of the stanol-enriched cheese on people suffering with mild hypercholesterolemia, which showed a reduction of cholesterol by 5, 8 percent and 10, 3 in the LDL-cholesterol levels. To quote the researchers on the results:
Cheese enriched with 2g of plant stanol in the form of fatty acid esters decreases serum total and LDL cholesterol significantly.
These plant sterols not only affect the HDL, but also reduce the risk of heart diseases, as it blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the diet. These sterols are mixed in spreads to give a diet low in cholesterol and FDA has given approval for selling these products in grocery stores. As all the plant sterols work in more or less similar manner, it depends how well it can conquer the fat level in a cheese-based product. However, you can rest assured that plant sterols acting as fat-mimeics can give you creamier and tastier cheese.
