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Sunflower Oil Lowers Cholesterol
July 14th, 2005
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A new study from Pennsylvania State
University showed that by modifying the American diet, and changing the
fat source to sunflower oil, participants lowered LDL cholesterol levels
by 6 percent.
A study consisting of 31 men and
women followed three different combinations of dietary fats consumed for
4 weeks at a time. The conclusions are reported in the July issue of the
Journal of the American Dietetic Association. One fat combination was
with sunflower oil (30%) which is a balance of polyunsaturated and
monounsaturated fats. Another dietary fat choice was olive oil (also
30%) which is monounsaturated fats. The last group was the control.
This typical American diet had saturated fats of the 34% of total
dietary fat intake.
The oils in this study were used in
the frying, baking and cooking process, as well as used in spreads and
salad dressings. The results were that the sunflower oil group averaged
a 6 percent drop in the LDL cholesterol when compared against the
American diet. The olive oil diet did not lower cholesterol levels.
The National Sunflower Association,
a non-profit commodity organization of sunflower growers, has a product
called NuSun, which is a new brand of sunflower oil that is being
marketed to commercial food manufacturers as a trans fats free oil.
Trans fat is manufactured by artificially hydrogenating the oil to
increase shelf life of a product.
Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, a head
researcher from Penn State University, thinks that it is most likely the
unique balance of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in
NuSun sunflower oil that creates the lower cholesterol levels. The
doctor said “This study demonstrates that the substitution of just a
small amount of a healthy oil like NuSun for saturated or trans fat can
significantly impact heart health.”
Related stories:
Prevent diseases by eating Essential Fatty Acids
By
Nicole Wilson
Best Syndication Staff Writer
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