Q: Isn't cheese high in fat and cholesterol? How is it possible that KRAFT liveactive cheese could help me reduce cholesterol?
A: KRAFT liveactive cheese products are not your ordinary cheeses. They are specially formulated to contain plant sterols and are much lower in fat than common cheese. When put to test in clinical studies, these cheese products containing plant sterols have demonstrated cholesterol lowering by up to 10% in 3 weeks for people with elevated cholesterol levels.*
Q: What are plant sterols? How do plant sterols help to lower cholesterol?
A: Plant sterols are substances naturally found in plant foods. Structurally they are the plant equivalent of cholesterol. They compete in the gut with cholesterol for absorption. Plant sterols win if there are enough of them (2-3g) to block the cholesterol absorption.
Q: I've never heard of plant sterols. Are they safe?
A: Plant sterols are a normal part of plants and we consume them everyday. If you are vegetarian then you consume quite a bit as part of your diet.
Q: Is there any side effect of consuming plant sterols?
A: Plant sterols have been tested extensively and the only side effect sometimes seen is interference with the absorption of the orange pigments - carotenoids - in some fruit or vegetables but this has no health effects.
Q: Are the plant sterols from a natural or synthetic source?
A: They are extracted from vegetable oils or other plant-based oils or products.
Q: Who should eat KRAFT liveactive cheese products?
A: These products are intended for individuals with the need to lower their raised blood cholesterol levels. They are likely to benefit you if you have elevated blood cholesterol levels.*
Q: You recommend eating 2 cheese slices or 1 mini-tub of your KRAFT liveactive cheese products each day to lower cholesterol. If I was to eat double the quantity would I see my cholesterol levels reduce significantly more?
A: There is no extra benefit to consuming more than 3g of plant sterols (or 3 serves of plant sterol enriched products) per day.
Q: I'm the only one in my household with high cholesterol. Can the rest of my family and kids eat KRAFT liveactive cheese products as well?
A: These products are intended for individuals with the need to lower their raised blood cholesterol levels. They are very safe for everybody but are unlikely to provide assistance to people without elevated cholesterol levels. As children, pregnant or lactating women have special dietary needs KRAFT liveactive cheese products may not be suitable for them.
Q: Should I stop my cholesterol-lowering medication if I am eating KRAFT liveactive cheese?
A: KRAFT liveactive cheese products are not meant to replace your cholesterol lowering medication. You should check with your doctor first before choosing any plant sterol enriched products if you are taking cholesterol lowering medication.
*Two slices or one mini-tub daily over three weeks. Individual results are influenced by many factors including age, current blood cholesterol levels and metabolism.
For more information on plant sterols:
Plant Sterols Factsheet by FSANZ