ProActiv FAQs: Your Questions Answered

ProActiv^® contains plant sterols, naturally occurring substances found in small amounts in plant foods.

Plant sterols work by reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed from your gut. This helps lower the amount of LDL cholesterol, often called "bad" cholesterol, in your blood. Research supports LDL-cholesterol reductions of around 7 to 10% with daily intakes of 1.5 to 2.4g of plant sterols or stanols. [uhsussex.nhs.uk], [heartuk.org.uk].

plant sterols help your body absorb less cholesterol.

Every day.

Plant sterols work best when you consume the recommended daily amount consistently, ideally with meals. [heartuk.org.uk]

ProActiv^® is designed for people who want or need to lower their cholesterol.

Foods with added plant sterols are not intended for people who do not need to control their blood cholesterol. They may also not be nutritionally appropriate for pregnant or breastfeeding women or children under five. [heartuk.org.uk]

If you've been advised to take cholesterol-lowering medication or have an existing medical condition, talk to your healthcare professional about what's appropriate for you.

Plant sterol and stanol-enriched foods can lower LDL cholesterol in people taking cholesterol-lowering medication, including statins. [heartuk.org.uk], [heartuk.org.uk]

However, ProActiv^® is a food, not a replacement for prescribed medication. If you're taking medication to lower your cholesterol, continue to take it as prescribed and discuss significant dietary changes with your healthcare professional.

Plant sterols are substances naturally present in foods including vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and wholegrains.

The quantities naturally present in our diet are relatively small, so foods with added plant sterols provide a practical way of consuming an effective daily amount. [heartuk.org.uk]

What are plant sterols and how do they work?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol, but having too much can increase your risk of heart and circulatory problems.

High cholesterol usually doesn't cause any symptoms, so the only way to know your cholesterol levels is to have a blood test. [nhs.uk]

Rather than focusing on one number in isolation, your healthcare professional may look at several measurements and your overall cardiovascular risk.

What is cholesterol?

You’ll commonly hear two terms:

LDL cholesterol is often called "bad" cholesterol. Too much LDL cholesterol can contribute to fatty deposits building up in your arteries. HDL cholesterol is often called "good" cholesterol because it helps carry cholesterol away from the arteries. For heart health, lowering elevated LDL cholesterol is an important focus.

HDL vs LDL cholesterol explained

There's no single solution. Instead, focus on small changes you can maintain over time. These can include:

• Swapping foods high in saturated fat for foods containing unsaturated fats
• Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Choosing wholegrains and high-fibre foods
• Including nuts, seeds and oily fish
• Staying physically active
• Stopping smoking
• Limiting alcohol
• Consuming foods with added plant sterols if you need to lower your cholesterol

Current UK guidance specifically recommends reducing saturated fat, choosing healthier unsaturated fats and aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. [nhs.uk]

How to lower cholesterol

No.Not all fats are the same.

Rather than trying to eliminate fat completely, focus on replacing foods high in saturated fat with foods containing unsaturated fats. This is one of the most useful dietary changes you can make to help lower cholesterol. [nhs.uk], [heartuk.org.uk]

Try choosing more:

• Olive or rapeseed oil
• Vegetable oil-based spreads
• Nuts and seeds
• Oily fish

And less:

• Butter, lard and ghee
• Fatty and processed meats
• Cakes, biscuits and pastries
• Foods high in coconut or palm oil

Not necessarily.

Rather than cutting out an entire food group, consider the saturated fat content of the foods you choose and make swaps where appropriate.

The bigger principle is simple: look for achievable ways to reduce saturated fat and replace it with healthier unsaturated fats. [nhs.uk], [heartuk.org.uk]

What are some simple cholesterol-friendly food swaps?

You don't have to completely change the way you eat. Small swaps can make everyday meals more heart-friendly.

For example:

• Butter → a spread rich in unsaturated fat
• Fatty processed meat → fish, beans or pulses
• White bread → wholegrain bread
• Biscuits → fruit or a handful of unsalted nuts
• Creamy sauces → tomato or vegetable-based alternatives
• Sugary breakfast cereal → porridge or wholegrain cereal

Switching saturated fats for healthier unsaturated fats is particularly important for lowering cholesterol. [heartuk.org.uk]

Try our cholesterol-lowering food swaps

Being physically active is an important part of looking after your cholesterol and overall heart health.

A good target for adults is at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. [nhs.uk]

That doesn't mean you need to join a gym. Walking, swimming and cycling can all count.

Walking is a great place to start.

A brisk walk that gets your heart beating faster can count towards your weekly moderate-intensity activity. [nhs.uk]

Most importantly, find something you enjoy and can do regularly. Building sustainable habits matters more than finding the "perfect" exercise.

Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, trout and herring provide omega-3 fats and can be a useful part of a heart-healthy diet.

A useful goal is two portions of fish a week, including at least one portion of oily fish. [heartuk.org.uk]

If you've recently discovered that your cholesterol is high, you don't need to change everything overnight.

Start with a few manageable steps:

1. Know your numbers.

Understand your cholesterol test results and talk to your healthcare professional if you're unsure what they mean.

2. Look at your everyday diet.

Identify where you could swap saturated fats for unsaturated fats and add more fibre-rich foods.

3. Move a little more.

Walking, cycling, swimming or another activity you enjoy can all support heart health.

4. If you need to lower your cholesterol, consider adding plant sterols.

ProActiv provides plant sterols in an easy everyday format.