topic A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE? in Wellness

A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:30:22 GMT

I recently started taking CholestaCare, so no blood work has been done yet to determine if it's helping. It's too soon.

Yesterday I was shopping and reading supplement labels.

I saw a new product ... Nature Made CholestOff Plus.

Comparing labels, both have a "proprietary formula".

The Lessman product has 800 mg of plant sterols.

The Nature Made supplement has 900 mg of plant sterols.

That's all I've got for comparisons.

Anyone here familiar with the Nature Made product?

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

4kitties — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 00:11:57 GMT

I have had success with the Nature Made Cholestoff Complete.

It has pantethine in addition to the plant sterols.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

qvcaddition — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 02:20:08 GMT

Been taking Colestercare for six months. Had blood work done. Watch diet,.

Didn't help.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

febe1 — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 03:37:32 GMT

I've been taking Andrew's Cholestercare for a couple years.

I don't know about other brands.

Your body makes cholesterol by your liver. Even if you have enough cholesterol in your bloodstream, your body keeps making it.

Healthy diet, exercise, and weight matter.

I take a lot of Andrew's supplements. I love his Eye Support and take two a day. This one I'll never stop. Mom had macular degeneration. It keeps my license free from glasses. I did have a tri-focal implant, which I'm thrilled to have. Medicare doesn't pay for it.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

MoJoV — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:15:33 GMT

@4kitties wrote:
I have had success with the Nature Made Cholestoff Complete.

It has pantethine in addition to the plant sterols.

If you don't mind, can I ask how much success and how long before you saw success?

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

beckyb1012 — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:28:15 GMT

I just had my blood work done on Monday this week after the last two years showed elevated cholesterol levels. Diet change only of Cheerios and oatmeal daily and numbers have been dropping each year. Not as much as I would like, but I know I could do much better with my diet.

I told my Dr. on Monday during the exam I was not giving up cheese, that is just not living, she agreed. Exercise is not an issue since I exercise a couple of hours a day and am underweight to begin with. Even my sodium levels are below normal range. She is not ready to try any medication since it is still dropping but I am going to try to do more this year for preparation of August 2026.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

Shelbelle — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:50:51 GMT

Nature Made has had cholesterol fighting supps around for over 20 years, just as good as Lessman if you are looking for plant sterols. Many other brands out there, do your research. Some contain many other cholesterol fighting ingredients in addition to the sterols. Some of them are garlic, panthenine, policosonal, beta glucan, niacin. Taking up to 2000 mg daily of the sterols is really optimum.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

Shelbelle — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:56:02 GMT

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

Still Raining — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:03:08 GMT

I think there are a whole lot of types of plant sterols out there, so being coy and marketing a 'proprietary blend' is not informative. Would nice to have something to evaluate.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

89135 — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 16:30:24 GMT

I tried CholestOff and didn't work for me...Dr recommended Red Yeast Rice several years ago and cholesterol has been great ever since..i get it at Costco...Weider brand

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

Shelbelle — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 16:41:06 GMT

Red Yeast Rice is a modified form of a statin drug, very different from plant sterols.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

SilleeMee — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:09:33 GMT

Berberine can lower LDL, lower triglycerides and increase HDL. However, in severe cases of high total cholesterol berberine is less effective. Berberine also helps regulate blood sugar much like how metformin works. No surprise there b/c berberine and metformin are both made from similar kinds of plants.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

Icegoddess — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:55:54 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
Berberine can lower LDL, lower triglycerides and increase HDL. However, in severe cases of high total cholesterol berberine is less effective. Berberine also helps regulate blood sugar much like how metformin works. No surprise there b/c berberine and metformin are both made from similar kinds of plants.

I tried berberine and I swear it is what royally messed up my GI system for months. I didn't make the connection for awhile so I probably stayed on it longer than I should have, but whether it is the reason or not, I won't be taking it anymore.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

Icegoddess — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:59:52 GMT

@Shelbelle wrote:
Red Yeast Rice is a modified form of a statin drug, very different from plant sterols.

And it has the same possible side effects as statins and isn't regulated so you can't be sure of the dose you're getting. I've had to change my statin medication due to the side effects I refused to live with.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

beckyb1012 — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 20:15:05 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
Berberine can lower LDL, lower triglycerides and increase HDL. However, in severe cases of high total cholesterol berberine is less effective. Berberine also helps regulate blood sugar much like how metformin works. No surprise there b/c berberine and metformin are both made from similar kinds of plants.
I tried berberine and I swear it is what royally messed up my GI system for months. I didn't make the connection for awhile so I probably stayed on it longer than I should have, but whether it is the reason or not, I won't be taking it anymore.

That was my very first question to myself when I first read this thread.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

Shelbelle — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 21:25:48 GMT

Plant sterols stopped working for me after using them for 20 years, so I relented and now take 10 mg daily of Zetia, (Eteztimide), no side effects and it is not a statin.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

SilleeMee — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 22:10:54 GMT

@beckyb1012 wrote:
@Icegoddess wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
Berberine can lower LDL, lower triglycerides and increase HDL. However, in severe cases of high total cholesterol berberine is less effective. Berberine also helps regulate blood sugar much like how metformin works. No surprise there b/c berberine and metformin are both made from similar kinds of plants.
I tried berberine and I swear it is what royally messed up my GI system for months. I didn't make the connection for awhile so I probably stayed on it longer than I should have, but whether it is the reason or not, I won't be taking it anymore.
That was my very first question to myself when I first read this thread.

Berberine's impact on gut health varies according to dose/duration and that can be different for each person. Maintaining a healthy diet with lots of fiber and gut-friendly foods helps. I have never had a problem with it and I've been taking it for many years.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

GingerHead — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 03:19:40 GMT

Weird, I could've sworn I posted a Looong post here, no, I know I did.....

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

beckyb1012 — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:48:26 GMT

@GingerHead wrote:
Weird, I could've sworn I posted a Looong post here, no, I know I did.....

You absolutely did, I remember it because I realized while reading the post I had not seen you in awhile. Cannot imagine why it would have been deleted, but someone took it down.

Re: A CHOLESTACARE ALTERNATIVE?

Effie54 — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 23:24:21 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
@Shelbelle wrote:
Red Yeast Rice is a modified form of a statin drug, very different from plant sterols.
And it has the same possible side effects as statins and isn't regulated so you can't be sure of the dose you're getting. I've had to change my statin medication due to the side effects I refused to live with.

My GP said the same thing; Red Yeast Rice is much like a statin (same possible side-effects) and for me it was a no go.