Consider plant sterols and stanols

Numerous dietary supplements have the potential for lowering cholesterol. Plant-based substitutes for cholesterol include stanols and sterols. They are absorbed from the diet similarly to cholesterol because they resemble cholesterol.

However, they don't cause clogged arteries because some of their chemistry are different from human cholesterol. They lower cholesterol levels instead by out-competing human cholesterol. When plant sterols are absorbed from the diet, cholesterol is no longer absorbed. Vegetable oils naturally include trace amounts of plant stanols and sterols, which are also added to some oils and butter replacements. Clinical studies indicate that consuming 1.5–3 grams of plant sterols/stanols daily can lower LDL levels by 7.5–12%, according to a review of the research. Researchers found that taking it twice daily with the main meal provides the best cholesterol-lowering results.