benecol review - 13 things you need to know
give me two minutes, and i’ll tell you whether benecol works. we wrote an in-depth review, examining the side effects, ingredients, clinical studies, and overall customer service. we additionally read dozens of user comments posted online. lastly, we condensed everything we found to give you the information you need. we realize the journey can be long and hard, which is why we aim to provide you with just the facts. does benecol have a connection to weight-loss? maybe.
benecol can be purchased through their official site.
what is benecol?
benecol is a well-known brand in the cholesterol-lowering food products market. owned by the finnish 2022足球世界杯德国队分组 raisio group, benecol’s products are available in over 30 countries and are used by millions worldwide.
benecol has the broadest range of international food products, including innovative margarine, dairy products, snack foods, pasta, soups, and prepared meals, all designed to help reduce cholesterol levels.
the primary ingredient in these products is plant stanol ester, which is key to its cholesterol-lowering claims.
let’s take a quick look at some of the research surrounding benecol and its inclusion in other food products:
- lipids in health and disease: a study using yogurt drinks containing benecol as an active ingredient found the drink was able to lower cholesterol levels.
- cholesterol: snack foods containing benecol can lower ldl cholesterol levels without affecting hdl cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
- western journal of medicine: plant stanols and stanol margarine like benecol may have an important role in improving heart health, but only if prices for the product lower.
benecol competitors
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other similar products: vegan diet | detailed guide for beginners |
benecol customer service information
- feedback form: https://www.raisio.com/en/contact-us/consumer-service/
- phone: +358 2 443 2022
- tuesday – thursday at 8.00-11.00 est. during hours outside this range, please leave a voice message.
- consumer service post address: raisio plc consumer service po box 101 fi-21201 raisio finland
- benecol limited the mille 1000 great west road brentford, london, tw8 9dw uk
- consumer care contact number: 0800 018 4010
- mon–fri 9 am–5 pm
- contact form: https://benecol.co.uk/contact-us/
- phone: 1-888-benecol (1-888-236-3265)
- monday to friday, 9 am to 5 pm est
- email: customercare@benecolusa.com
- address: customer care, olivio premium products corp., 867 boylston st fl 6 boston, ma 02116
benecol and the better business bureau (bbb)
there are many different companies around benecol, but olivio premium products appears to be the us connection. olivio isn’t accredited by the bbb, but it has earned an a+ rating from the consumer protection agency.
scroll below for one of the best products we’ve seen over the last year.
benecol and a healthy diet
phytostanol is a natural compound found in whole grains and cereals. however, the levels seen in plants are usually too low to provide significant health benefits.
raisio patented its use of refined phytostanol foods in the early 1990s. it is refined by a proprietary process designed to bring out phytostanol’s cholesterol-reducing powers, without side effects.
raisio has developed margarine, which includes benecol, to have the most favorable nutritional profile of any margarine on the market. it is expected that future developments will improve these characteristics as new benecol products will appear with lower amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, combined with higher levels of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids.
wide range of benecol products
one of the main advantages of phytostanol is its ability to incorporate virtually any food product, including most labeled as low-fat or fat-free, such as yogurt, liquid yogurt, milk, etc. the dose of benecol depends on the typical daily consumption of the product in question. it has no odor or taste and most of fat’s physical and chemical properties. its shelf life is equivalent to that of most edible oils and fats.
raisio manages the benecol brand’s licenses and sells the active benecol ingredient to food companies around the world. they also carry the following brands: elovena®, beanit®, benella®, sunnuntai®, nalle®, torino®, nordic.
the first of its kind
the dynamic opportunities for including benecol in products were highlighted by benecol’s dairy partner in switzerland, emmi. together, they launched the world’s first cholesterol-lowering milk yogurt. this was a particular coup as it extended benecol into the range of probiotic foods, a key market. since the launch of the first liquid yogurt, benecol has gained popularity throughout europe, attracting consumers who want convenient and tasty dietary means to help them reduce their cholesterol.
benecol promoting better health
benecol is the primary product range from raisio life sciences, a 2022足球世界杯德国队分组 specializing in developing and producing food ingredients with health benefits, including using nutritional methods to fight against problems such as allergies.
these are the six most frequent myths about cholesterol
what, in the constellation of myths of surrounding cholesterol, is true? here are six tips to clarify some of the confusion about the role it plays in our bodies.
1. there is good and bad cholesterol
cholesterol is a single lipid molecule found in the bloodstream that travels to different cells or flows in the intestinal system’s direction to be expelled from the body. it is thought that it is imperative to strike a balance between the cholesterol entering the body and that being excreted, such that the levels in the blood do not exceed 200 mg per 100 milliliters of blood (mg/dl).
ideally, the cholesterol entering the body does not exceed 150 mg/dl and that it does not leave at a rate higher than 40 mg/dl. if this balance is maintained, good health is maintained, while if there is an imbalance, people are considered to have bad cholesterol.
2. eating meats and sausages increase the danger of cholesterol
overeating anything is bad, of course, but animal fats do not directly increase the proportion of cholesterol in the blood, at least not just by being ingested. more and more studies point out that cholesterol levels are not directly related to the intake of animal fats, regardless of how rich they are in cholesterol. this is because most of the ingested and absorbed cholesterol through the intestine is metabolized, broken down to be used by the body in other ways. thus, most of the cholesterol in the blood is synthesized by our bodies, and this synthesis is not influenced by the number of fats consumed.
3. dairy products and eggs have an impact on cholesterol
the same is true of fats from dairy or egg products as, even though they are high in calories, they do not directly influence the amount of cholesterol in the blood, according to the journal cholesterol. it is possible to be overweight without showing an alarming amount of bad cholesterol due to genetic factors or fatty foods’ ingestion.
4. drinking danacol and benecol lower cholesterol
it is true that products such as danacol and benecol lower the amount of cholesterol that enters the bloodstream as long as they are taken in recommended doses, and not for more than two days. it is not recommended that adults who are taking medication or are pregnant ingest these things, as they are high in phytosterols, which block the intestinal absorption of cholesterol.
this works by blocking 10% of the body’s cholesterol absorption, which lowers the body’s natural 20% absorption rate. cholesterol normally is absorbed and used by the body to manufacture vitamin d, among other things. it is unknown if the decrease in the rates of absorption has some long-term negative impacts, such as on the body’s ability to synthesize these important chemicals.
on the other hand, when a person stops taking products enriched with phytosterols, their body’s natural processes will readjust, raising the cholesterol to previous levels. the best way to ingest phytosterols, though, is to include them in a diet high in fiber, through the addition of fruits and vegetables.
5. cholesterol is a toxin that must be avoided
it is one of the most important metabolites our bodies possess. it is involved in the construction of cell membranes, the creation of bile salts, the generation of vitamin d, the production of sex hormones, and the production of corticosteroids. it is also an important food for the flora of the intestine.
how benecol fights cholesterol
benecol is a plant-based addition to sterol products that act against cholesterol, ldl, and other bad forms. it works to reduce cholesterol efficiency in just three weeks, thus operating against hypercholesterolemia. it is made from fermented milk, which means it is a good addition to other dairy-based ferments containing plant sterols. these plant sterols occur naturally in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, making it a great treatment for hypercholesterolemia.
the plant sterols reduce the absorption of cholesterol by the body by 75%. this increases the synthesis of the apolipoprotein hdl, which facilitates good cholesterol. one unit of benecol contains 1.6 g. of sterols, which reduces cholesterol levels in three weeks. it is important to include a variety of fiber-rich foods, such as more fruits and vegetables, in addition to benecol.
sterols and stanols in two words
first, as noted above, are the phytosterols. it is quite well documented that these phytosterols compete with cholesterol in food such that, when sterol or stanol-rich food is ingested, these components are absorbed instead of the cholesterol.
however, in addition to finding them in the aforementioned functional foods that “lower cholesterol,” these phytosterols are naturally present in various fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes, and vegetable oils. the same is true of the stanols, but they are found in even smaller amounts than sterols.
can benecol improve health?
the truth is that all this sounds very nice, and, based on the fact that the brands have been hammering these facts in over fifteen years, the average consumer likely believes it. “if i have high blood cholesterol levels, and i take some milk-cabbage type product that helps to block cholesterol absorption from food… then my cholesterol will fall, and my cardiovascular risk will decrease.”
sounds good, very good, right? but unfortunately, it is not proven. if one day someone analyses the impact of these products on global health… the result will be quite murky. there are two key burning issues:
leaving aside the presumed benefits, it is not clear that incorporating sterols and stanols into a diet by eating functional foods enriched in these elements is risk-free…. it may yet be revealed that they are doing more harm than good.
the fact that including these products in your diet helps reduce your cholesterol is more or less clear. it is far less clear that that has a clinically observable effect on cardiovascular health, and further study is necessary.
lawsuits
on may 15, 2019, benecol was hit with a class-action lawsuit with claims the product contained trans fats, despite promoting the fact that contains no trans fats, according to top class action.
the lawsuit claims that the product contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil, which contains trans fats.
so why people are using benecol?
recall that, in this case, the “serious knowledge” about cholesterol was forged in the interest of a specific industry. the work of hundreds, or thousands, of advertising strategies, has worked perfectly to convince the consumer that buying these functional foods will positively impact their cardiovascular health. however, there is not much that has been fully proven.
at present, there is a special sensitivity in the world to research concerning subjects like cholesterol, cardiovascular health, sterols, and stanols. there is plenty of information about these things in editorials of the cardiovascular safety of plant sterol and stanol consumption journal which summarize, in an obvious way, the impacts of these compounds on cardiovascular health:
although links have been made between cardiovascular health and the levels of plant sterols and stanols present in functional foods, there has been no conclusive evidence to support this.
there has also been no evidence. however, including these has no negative impact either.
as mentioned above, cholesterol in a person’s diet has minimal impact on a person’s cholesterol levels. this raises the question of why one would add a unique milk-cabbage product to an already healthy diet?
for several years now, it has been understood that cholesterol levels in the bloodstream are not a good way of measuring cardiovascular risk. this is even acknowledged in the advertisements for these products, although in a way that still entices us to buy them. other measures, such as the proportion of various lipoproteins and other lipid metabolism elements, are now seen as better determinants of cardiovascular health. so much for the simplicity of the 200 mg/dl measure.
those who are bothered by their high cholesterol levels can go to the supermarket and buy any one of many targeted products. consumers interested in these products, which are designed to lower ldl cholesterol in heart health, are most likely to use proactive margarine from unilever.
besides danacol and benecol products, there is also the possibility of drinking yogurt enriched with plant sterols. these products adorn themselves with various health claims, and the european food safety authority (efsa) has found some of these to be effective.
however, plant substances have come under some criticism. consumer advocate groups, like foodwatch, have argued that these products, due to their strength, should only be sold in pharmacies. this is to cut down on their use by those who do not have pathologically elevated cholesterol levels. indeed, a recent belgian revealed that every fifth flemish preschooler takes these products!
“the products simply have a healthy image,” says birgit niemann, a scientist at the federal institute for risk research (bfr). heart health specialists are also critical as, after all, phytosterols are highly effective substances that could potentially be dangerous. “just because the fabrics are natural does not mean that they are automatically healthy and safe,” warns oliver weingartner of saarland university.
what users are saying
“bought this to help lower my cholesterol. have only been using 3 weeks so don’t know yet if it works. was delivered well packaged with ice on bottom. tubs were cool when arrived.”
“very very sweet… like eating sugar.”
“tastes good, my kiddo likes them and i do too, but they have way too much sugar. wish maybe there was a stevia or other natural sweetener or lower sugar option.”
the bottom line on benecol
we are excited to see that benecol spreads, chews, and cereals can potentially help people lower their bad cholesterol levels to improve heart health. but, we’d like to see a stronger focus on dietary changes that could also help weight-loss. there is a direct connection between losing and improving overall health. plus, we’ve got negative reviews and problems with taste to consider.
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su (verified purchase)
how does benecol work. i have been taking statins and benecol for 10 years my cholesterol level is very low. i also suffer with unexplained pain in my bones and joints which move around from one part of my body to another . could this be a side effect?
hello su. although these are not side effects of benecol, it may be best to discontinue use and consult with a medical professional.
the taste and smell of benecol has changed. what happened? ruins the taste of toast
i have drank a benicol that was out of date can it harm me was by mistake
maureen,
usually products aren’t meant to be consumed/used after their expiration date. if you feel any side effects i would suggest seeing your physician.
anonymous (verified purchase)
i have been using bencol for years and the taste has changed. it did taste like butter, but now something has changed and it affects the taste of the food i put it on, too. i hope you can bring back the butter like taste again.
i agree. it smells and taste entirely different.
is it good to take if you have ibs (verified purchase)
only on my first day
kyle
does benecol have gmo’s?
benecol claims to be natural and gmo free.
it contains partionaly hydronated oils which are bad for your heart it’s the hidden ingredient that is trans fats
hi kyle! benecol claims to be extracted and concentrated from non-gmo.
is benedol avaliable in western australia
hi david. we didn’t find mention of “the 2022足球世界杯德国队分组 ” in australia, but we’re not affiliated with the 2022足球世界杯德国队分组 .
catherine dyson (verified purchase)
i find all benecol products reduce cholesterol, but, do they contain potassium? as i have a high level of potassium and finding it difficult to know just what to take.
yes this product contains potassium sorbate. ask your doctor if this is right for you.
can benecol cause diarrhea and upset the bowel? i have colitis..
hi sandra! yes. we’ve seen reports of benecol side effects that include upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. please consult your doctor before starting, to make sure it’s safe for you.
yes, i only used it for 3 days and it caused terrible stomach upset. nothing else changed in my diet, and i was shielding so no contact with others. i will not be taking it again
if take atorvastatin tables can you have benecol drinks?
hi razia, because of the possibility of interactions, please make sure to consult with your physician before taking this product.
when did benecol yogurt drink first come on the market in the uk, please?
it first launched in 1995.
since taking it i have had a tummy upset including pain and bloating and excessive wind. is it likely to be the benecol?
hello. all users are different and can experience different side effects, but please make sure to consult with your physician before continuing to take this product.
i’ve taken twice nutrive benecol (blackcurrant flavour) twice and in both times experience quite severe upset stomach with purging.
gloria castelltto (verified purchase)
i purchased a container of benecol however i was concerned that some ingredients in the product are
genetic engineered. until i am sure all the product is non-gmo i will never buy it again
diana
for years i used benecol light spread as a substitute for butter. i have high cholesterol. i do not want to add another medication for lowering cholesterol. in the last month, i have not been able to find benecol in the markets or the commissaries. i do not eat butter, but i like the flavor of butter on my toast. currently i am trying other substitutes for my toast that are not medicines.
in hong kong we have benecol yoghurt drinks which are delicious! i started taking them as an alternative to doubling my low dose of statin (lipitor, which makes me tired), with approval from my cardiologist. research suggests that a benecol drink daily cuts ldl (“bad”) cholesterol more effectively than doubling one’s statin dose. i am awaiting results on ldl but in the meantime i think it is helping to keep my weight down, which it should since it is blocking absorption of fats (it lowers absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin a, so one needs to take enough fruit and veg).
gillian ray
where can i buy benecol products in south surrey bc canada?
it should be available on the site or google
viv (verified purchase)
two years ago, with cholesterol of 220, i started using benacol light spread. at my six mo check up, no other dietary changes it weight loss, my cholesterol lowered to 173.
dan marra
does benecol have any effects on or with the liver . thank you
hello dan. all users are different and can experience different side effects; please make sure to consult with your physician before taking this product.
my heart nurse said that you would need so much benecol to lower cholesterol you would then be having too much fats.
well all i can say is that in addition to a calorie controlled diet, the use of benecol spread instead of butter or some other seed oil margerine, my cholesterol dropped from 6.8 to 4.0 in the space of 2 months.
my dr. was amazed… she prescribed statins for me and i went for the benecol light option and i’m seriously glad that i did..
i seriously don’t reccomend the benecol buttery as in addition to the unfortunate addition of unwanted oils and fats, the flavour and aroma additives make it smell (in my opinion) like goose poop… and i used to keep geese…
it’s a pity that i can no longer obtain the light version from my local tesco store as they’ve opted to stock the fatty club version (buttery)… but sainsbury still do it (at a premium not that i care about the price…)
we find benecol to be delicious and it appears to have helped lower cholesterol when used as suggested – 2 -3 tablespoons per day. the only problem is that not all stores carry it and it is very expensive.
we had been using promise activ but it was discontinued so we ran out and bought your benecol spread but now learned it has partially hydrogenated soybeab oil in it. i thought this substance was banned fron use in foods. we really feel uncomfortable using this product now. i bought three containers of it. what should we do? thanks martin davis
can benecol be used in recipes as the fat instead of shortening or butter?
where can i buy benecol? i need it for high cholestrol
it’s trans fat! their research (150 people for 1 year and the control group ate margarine!). you may as well say silk cut mild is safer than capstan full strength. google ‘the cholesterol myth’ if you want the truth
after twenty-five years of lowering cholesterol there has been no effect whatsoever in altering the thickening in the arterial walls wherever which was the intention.
who and when said that a certain cholesterol level was such and such for the whole of humanity.
trans-fats are the cause of much obesity and that fatty arterial thickening.
go get some decent butter.
the whole framingham research was flawed from the onset because of the american diet and reliance on trans-fats in their industrial food-stuffs.
go read “the cholesterol myth”.
i like cholesterol and two eggs for breakfast and double cream too.
benecol is a trans-fat?
hi all,
being a bzzagent, i thought i would share my experiences with you.
benecol products taste great, however i cannot comment on the usefulness in lowering cholesterol. i am hoping it does help, as there are a lot of the other products out there to help promote healthy eating.
i’m a bzzagent and i tried the benecol yoghurts and buttery spread after receiving my trial voucher, i was so impressed with how creamy and fruity the yoghurts are that i buy them every week as part of my weekly shop. my husband loves them too and we love the fact that they are healthy and helping us to control our cholesterol which is a great benefit. i would highly recommend these products” – bzzagent button21
submit your bzz
where i can buy benecol (suppliment as a tablet / tea )
please reply as soon as poosible where to buy this benecol.
thank you
5 years ago my cholesterol level was over 8, my doctor put me onto lipator which ive been taking for the 5 years but lowered it only to 5, i have been drinking benecol now for 3 years and each year re my blood test as i am a diabetic my doctor has noticed ech year a marked drop in my cholestrol level to a point re my last blood test i only had a reading of 1.25 he asked my if i was a vegetarian i said no i even have in moderstion chocolate and ice cream he shook his head.
i then produced my little bottle of banecol he looked at it an said if it works keep it up that’s all his comment was, so as you gather i am a firm believer in benecol as it has worked for me big time but with a daily walk of 1 hour, i purchase my benecol at tesco in thailand and cannot get the same in australia
what is the difference between new b
enecol chews and used benecol chews?
after all we have learned about the danger to our heart from consuming transfats, i find it shocking that benecol would use partially hydrogenated oil as a top ingredient in their spread. i rate the product a danger not a benefit to a healthy heart, plant sterols notwithstanding.
my boston terrier ate 15 benecol tablets. will this harm him?
work shutring carpenter
i went thro’ about benecol in net, i would like to know where i will get these products in mysore.
can benecol be used as a replacement for butter or shortening in recipes?
tried two small bottles and have had stomach upset – is this common and will i get used to it?
i agree with what your saying but have you got any qualifications or research to support the above?