Category Archives: Sterols and Stanols

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus): Phytochemistry

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Robert Barrington

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is a plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family of plants. The plant is interesting foma phytochemical point of view as it may contain a number of phytochemicals that have important health effects. One of the main … Continue reading →

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Plant Sterols and the Central Nervous System

Posted on December 14, 2022 by Robert Barrington

Plant sterols are chemically related to animal steroids and consist of a basic 4 ring structure. Plant sterols are synthesised by plants and some show good bioavailability in humans and animals. One of the most researched effects of plant sterols … Continue reading →

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Maca (Lepidium meyenii): Pharmacology Part 3

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Robert Barrington

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a herb with significant medicinal properties. These properties stem from the phytochemicals contained within the plant tissues. Some of the phytochemicals contained within maca belong to the alkaloid subgroup of chemicals. The main alkaloids identified in … Continue reading →

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Asparagus (Asparagus racemosus): Phytochemistry

Posted on February 16, 2022 by Robert Barrington

Asparagus racemosus is a plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family of plants. Asparagus racemosus is sometimes also called Satawar, Satamuli or Shatavari. It grows at low altitudes throughout India. Asparagus racemosus is used as a herbal medicine in traditional … Continue reading →

Posted in Alkaloids, Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari), Flavonoids, Isoflavones, Saponins, Sterols and Stanols | Comments Off on Asparagus (Asparagus racemosus): Phytochemistry

The Phytochemicals in Cucurbitaceae Family Vegetables

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Robert Barrington

The Cucurbitaceae family vegetables include the common cucumber that most people are familiar with from supermarkets. However, melons are also part of this family. Both cucumbers and melons are medicinal in nature, and this relates to the phytochemicals they contain. … Continue reading →

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Low Fat Spreads: Treat the Symptoms Not the Cause

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Robert Barrington

The idea that cholesterol is the cause of the vascular damage seen in the aetiology of atherosclerosis is outdated. The original theory suggested that cholesterol from the diet could cause an increase in the cholesterol levels of the blood, and … Continue reading →

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What Do You Mean By Dietary Fat?

Posted on November 6, 2016 by Robert Barrington
Posted in Cholesterol, Fat, Fatty Acids, Sterols and Stanols, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols | Comments Off on What Do You Mean By Dietary Fat?

Saturated Fat and Health

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Robert Barrington

The role of saturated fat in health has been distorted from the original observations within the scientific literature. Saturated fat has been implicated as a disease causing agent, and this is really at odds with the data from peer review … Continue reading →

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Fish Oils and Plant Sterols: Lowering Triglycerides

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Robert Barrington

The metabolic syndrome is characterised by insulin resistance and this results in a number of metabolic abnormalities. One such abnormality is an increase in the de novo lipogenesis pathway of the liver. The de novo lipogenesis pathway is involved with … Continue reading →

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Vegetable Spreads Versus Butter

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Robert Barrington

Butter is made by churning milk. In this process the milk fat is agitated and this causes a change in the physical composition of the milk. Milk is an emulsion whereby the fat molecules are suspended in the watery medium … Continue reading →

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