Plant sterols and stanols - read the fine print

Plant sterols and stanols are thought to help lower cholesterol through the inhibition of cholesterol absorption.  Today, there are a number of food products containing plant sterols available. You may have seen these marketed in products such as margarine, milk, and cheese among other items. its important to read the labels on these foods with regard to a potential allergy threat. For instance, Minute Maid Heart Wise orange juice contains plant sterols, these plant sterols may be derived from highly refined vegetable oils such as soybean or peanut. Its a good idea to check double check labels if you are buying products that may be marketed as "heart healthy" through the addition of plant sterols.