Phytosterols 13-03-2006 ddddddddd Phytosterols "Wonder nutrients" for the new millennium New breakthroughs in the prevention of Heart Disease, The treatment of Rheumatiod arthritis, HIV and Hepatitas C infections, Chronic fatigue syndrome and the latest Breast and Prostate cancer prevention. Welcome to the age of preventive medicine. Since time immemorial we have known of the monumental role that plants play in protecting us against the ravages of the environment. We have found that plants have the capacity to prevent and treat all sorts of diseases. What we haven't always understood is the way in which these wonders of nature weave their magic. As we hurtle into the 21st century with all its endless possibilities we are finally beginning to comprehend in a scientific fashion exactly what it is that makes plants so essential to our well-being. Phytonutrients are those plant chemicals that have the ability to enhance the natural processes of the body. If we harness these potent substances we will have at our disposal the means for preventing such diseases as cancer and heart disease which have proven to be the scourges of the past century. We will also be able to win the war against viruses and bacteria without resorting to the potentially harmful effects of antibiotics. Up to now we haven't really found an effective means of dealing with viruses at all. We simply have to witness the devastatingly destructive effects of the HIV virus to realise that medical science has for the most part been powerless to withstand the onslaught of this relentless aggressor. This is all about to change. The phytonutrients known as phytosterols are about to revolutionise the world of preventive medicine. Scientific research indicates that these substances have unique immune-enhancing capabilities. Never before have we witnessed nutrients with such versatile properties which will allow us to not only nullify the effects of viruses and bacteria but also to have the potential to deal with such autoimmune diseases as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Current evidence indicates that phytosterols may play a pivotal role in the prevention and treatment of cancer. There is also growing evidence that phytosterols can have a significant impact on such diverse diseases as eczema, asthma, diabetes and chronic fatigue syndrome. Phytotosterols also have a preventive role as far as heart disease is concerned as they reduce the levels of the dangerous cholesterol, LDL, while preserving normal levels of the good cholesterol, HDL. Phytosterols are essentially plant fats that include beta-sitosterol and its glucoside beta-sitosterolin. These two plant fats were isolated as long ago as 1922. Between 1966 and the present time over 5,000 research papers have been published, all demonstrating the positive benefits of beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosterolin (sterols and sterolins). Sterols and sterolins are always found together in nature and together they work synergistically to enhance and modulate the immune system. All plants contain sterols and sterolins and these include fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Raw unprocessed nuts and seeds and their oils contain the richest source of sterols and sterolins. Unfortunately food processing makes it virtually impossible to obtain sufficient quantities of these plant fats in our regular diets. For marketing purposes sterols and sterolins are removed from oils to make the finished product appear clearer and more palatable to the consumer. Freezing results in the destruction of sterolins, while boiling vegetables causes plant fats to be released into the cooking water which gets discarded. Even if we were to consume the plant sources of sterols and sterolins in the fresh organic state we still only absorb round about 5 percent from food sources. This means that eating good quality unprocessed plant foods will probably not supply sufficient plant sterols to fortify our immune systems and boost our body's natural processes. Our body pools of sterols and sterolins diminish rapidly and it would seem to be prudent to take supplements of these nutrients in order to achieve the desired benefits. Phytosterols | The new immune system | Boosting athletes immune systems | Overcoming prostate enlargment | Winning the war against cancer | The New Hope for treating... | Reducing the risk of heart disease | Solving the dilemma of Auto immune disease | Summary of main points | Bibliography