The packs are normally priced at £20 but, for one day only, shoppers can get them for £10
Boots customers have been praising an affordable pill for its ability to help lower cholesterol levels, with some even claiming they’re no longer at risk of needing medication, such as statins. The tablets are currently available at a reduced price, but only for a very short period.
The Boots Max Strength Plant Sterols Capsules usually retail at £19.75 for a pack of 60 pills. However, for the next 24 hours, these packs can be purchased for just £10 as part of the store’s weekly Tuesday deal.
Even after the offer ends, the pills are still going to be available to purchase, but they will be back to full price. Shoppers with an Advantage Card can shave 10% off selected Boots own-brand products online – with these pills included.
This pack should last approximately a month. For best results, people are advised to take two capsules daily. These ‘clinically proven’ supplements are the most potent version as they have a strength of 1000mg per pill.
As suggested by the name, plant sterols naturally occur in plants and are associated with lower cholesterol levels. They function by competing with cholesterol for absorption in the intestines, thereby reducing the amount of LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol entering the bloodstream, reports the Mirror.
Clinical studies have demonstrated that consuming 1.5-2.4 grams of plant sterols or stanols daily can decrease LDL cholesterol by about 7-10% Several Boots customers have claimed that the tablets have result in genuine health benefits for them – especially if taken alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise.
One customer shared: “With a few small dietary adjustments and taking these after a few months I repeated my cholesterol test and the results were better than I had imagined, I won’t stop taking them now as I’ve had no side effects and I have a strong family history of heart disease.”
Another added: “I have been using these in place of statins for over a year and they are helping to control my cholesterol levels.” A third commented: “My cholesterol level has dropped using these and diet control – so avoided medication so far.”
However, some customers reported that they saw little or no improvement in their cholesterol levels. One claimed that, after a year of adding these pills to their daily routine, their cholesterol level had “gone up” and branded the tablets “a waste of money”.
Another warned that these pills were not the easiest to swallow. They wrote: “Just be aware that these torpedo-shaped tablets are very large (2.5cm long) and not easy to swallow. In fact, I can’t take them.” And, a third added: “I was really hoping these would lower my cholesterol. They made no difference and now on statins.”
Alternatives to Boots’ tablets are available. On Amazon, thousands of shoppers have given the High Strength Plant Sterols with Beta-Sitosterol by Horbaach (120 Pack) great reviews.
At Holland and Barrett, you can pick up some Cholestaguard Plant Sterols for £11.99 (60 pack). At the time of writing, there is a three-for-two offer available on selected supplements, allowing shoppers to save on bigger purchases.
Before you start taking any new medication or over-the-counter tablets, it’s crucial to consult your doctor, especially if you’re already receiving treatment for a condition. Plant sterols are generally considered safe for most healthy adults when taken in the recommended doses.
However, they may not be suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children under five, and individuals with certain rare genetic disorders such as sitosterolemia.
Statins work by inhibiting an enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) in the liver, which is crucial for cholesterol production. This helps cut the amount of ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) in the blood and potentially stabilises plaque in arteries. Some foods, including plant sterols, also help the liver draw more cholesterol from the blood to produce bile.
While certain foods can help support the body in reducing cholesterol, it’s important to clarify that no single food or dietary change can replace the effectiveness of statin medications for slashing cholesterol. However, some foods can contribute to lowering cholesterol levels through lifestyle changes and may be part of a broader strategy for heart health.
Can I still take statins as well as plant sterols?
Victoria Taylor, a dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, has some advice. She said: “If you’re taking statins, it’s fine to use plant stanol or sterol products. As they work in different ways to reduce cholesterol, the effect can be cumulative.”
She further added: “But remember that these plant stanols or sterols aren’t substitutes for prescribed medications, and whilst there is an expectation that their cholesterol-lowering effect will lead to fewer heart attacks, no clinical trials have been undertaken to show this.
“Never disregard your doctor’s advice. If you’ve been prescribed statins for your condition, it’s best to keep taking your medicine to help manage your cholesterol levels. Those with high cholesterol often pair this medication with significant lifestyle changes. The NHS recommends aiming for “at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of exercise a week”, eating less fatty foods, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake.