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The Natural Prostate Cure
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Chapter 6: Other Benefits of Beta-sitosterol
[Due to the hundreds of published studies involved, it is impractical to use endnotes in this chapter.]
Beta-sitosterol is one of the most important nutrients in our diet, is found in literally all our vegetables, and is the most important supplement you can take for good prostate health. It has many other benefits, and can be used by both men and women (especially to protect against breast cancer). It’s estimated that Americans generally consume about 300 mg a day of natural betasitosterol in their diets, while vegetarians eat at least twice that much. Western diets are clearly deficient in this.
A notable benefit of this supplement is the promotion of healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Over thirty years ago, studies showed a positive effect, with no change in diet or exercise. Since then, over fifty articles have been published in international medical journals. To reap the benefits described, you need to take at least 300 mg a day of mixed beta-sitosterol. If you lower your fat intake, and actively exercise, the results will be much more dramatic. Common sense tells you to cut down on, or cut out, saturated animal fat, dairy, and, especially, unnatural hydrogenated fats, which are found in so many of our processed foods. Surprisingly, the intake of vegetable oils does not raise cholesterol or triglyceride levels, but excess vegetable oils can contribute to prostate disease and other illnesses. Please read my book, Lower Cholesterol Without Drugs.
You would think that doctors would be giving beta-sitosterol to all their patients with high cholesterol levels. Instead, they are prescribing costly drugs that may induce serious side effects, and have questionable success in reducing cholesterol. Surprisingly, beta-sitosterol is very difficult to find in drug stores, health food stores, and mail order vitamin catalogs. In the future, beta-sitosterol will become much more popular and well known. This is obviously a supplement for women, as well.
High cholesterol and triglyceride levels are considered the biggest cause of clogged arteries, or atherosclerosis. At the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, McMater University in Ontario, Sumitomo Chemical in Japan, and the Institute of Experimental Medicine in Leningrad, atherosclerosis was improved by simply giving beta-sitosterol supplements.
Studies have been done in other areas of illness that suggest beta-sitosterol may have great potential in areas such as blood clotting, ulcers, cancer prevention, tumors, immunity, inflammation, diabetes, and other diseases. Since beta-sitosterol is found in nearly all vegetables it makes sense that it really is an essential nutrient, and will be so recognized in the future.
The following studies show the promising potential of beta-sitosterol for various conditions.
Doctors at the State University of New York have been studying the effects of beta-sitosterol on human prostate and human colon cancer cells in test tubes (in vitro). They have found it to be a potent killer of cancer cells, but so far only in test tubes. This is very promising research in finding effective natural supplements that have anti-cancer properties.
At the famous Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute, doctors found beta-sitosterol, when fed to rats, slowed the growth of colonic adenomas (tumors).
At the University of Frauenklin in Germany, men with prostate adenomas were given beta-sitosterol, which slowed tumor growth by decreasing their prostaglandin content.
At the National Institute of Health in Maryland, scientists studied the chemo-preventive properties of beta-sitosterol. This means that it helps prevent cancer when known carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) are given to laboratory animals. The same chemo-preventive results were found with rats at Wayne State University.
At Shiga University in Japan, and the University of Valencia in Spain, high blood-sugar levels in hyperglycemic rats were lowered by feeding them beta-sitosterol. Diabetic rats improved their diamine oxidase (DAO) levels when fed oral beta-sitosterol. DAO levels are a basic marker in this condition. The same desired results were shown in another study, where glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-P) levels were lowered. G-6-P is another basic marker of diabetes and blood sugar disorders.
Studies have shown that oral beta-sitosterol protects against stomach ulcers in rats. At West China University in China, it was shown that beta-sitosterol may help to protect our stomach linings and prevent the formation of ulcers. In another study, stomach lesions in test animals were reduced 80 percent with oral beta-sitosterol. At the University of Texas, the same protection against stomach ulcers in rats was shown that by simply adding beta-sitosterol to their food. Doesn’t it sound more promising to study a beneficial, inexpensive substance found in all vegetables for reducing stomach ulcers, rather than toxic prescription medicines?
There are so many studies on the antimicrobial properties of betasitosterol that it is hard to count them all. These include antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. This is a much better medical road to follow than the constant search for powerful synthetic antimicrobial drugs that often cause more harm than the benefits provided. At the Central Institute of Medicine in India, the Institute of Biotechnology in Peking, the University of California, and the Federal University in Brazil, powerful antimicrobial properties were shown. This broad-spectrum activity is most impressive.
Studies have shown beta-sitosterol intake improves blood parameters in various ways. At the Efurt Medical Academy in Germany, beta-sitosterol fed to rabbits improved their fibrinolytic capacity and plasminogen activity. At the Tokyo Institute in Japan, the same basic results were found in cows. At Aga Khan University in Pakistan, blood platelet activity was improved. We have mentioned the healthier cholesterol and triglyceride levels that beta-sitosterol helps to promote. The references to “fibrinolytic,” “plasminogen,” and “platelets” simply mean that blood functions were better due to beta-sitosterol use.
Studies have been done, especially at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, on improving the human immune system by simply adding beta-sitosterol to their diets. Runners ran better under the influence of this supplement. T-cell activity in the blood was improved, lymphocytes grew faster, and natural killer-cell (NK-cell) function was improved. This simply means that the runners’ immune systems were functioning better.
Powerful anti-inflammatory properties of this wondrous substance have been demonstrated. At the University of Stellenbosch, doctors are working with people with rheumatism to see if beta-sitosterol will help them. This is certainly more fruitful than dangerous synthetic chemicals that are touted every year as arthritis and rheumatism “break-throughs,” but never deliver what is promised. At King George Medical College in India, arthritic rats were given beta-sitosterol with good results and total safety. At the University of Napoli in Italy, arthritic rats improved significantly when fed beta-sitosterol. Several relevant U.S. and European patents have been granted.
At Dhaka University in Bangladesh, doctors found that diabetic rats fed beta-sitosterol reduced their blood sugar significantly. This was done by improving liver function and normalizing sugar metabolism. At the University of Valencia in Spain, the insulin metabolism of diabetic rats was improved dramatically. The same results were found at Shiga University in Japan. Why aren’t American researchers looking at improving the life of diabetics by natural means, instead of injecting them with insulin for the rest of their lives?
It is important to know that many other studies of beta-sitosterol, on both humans and animals, have shown a wide range of potential benefits, including increased levels of SOD (superoxide dismutase), which is critical to immunity and lifespan. SOD is the most important of our four antioxidant enzymes and its level falls as we age. People with certain illnesses also have low beta-sitosterol intake. Vegetarians typically eat 100 percent more beta-sitosterol than meat eaters, and are known to be healthier, live longer, and have far less diseases such as cancer, heart attack, diabetes, and the rest of the epidemics that eventually affect most Americans. The elderly have been shown to have extremely low phytosterol intake, generally.
Topical uses have been studied for keratosis, acne, psoriasis, and skin protein synthesis. Yet, no one offers a beta-sitosterol skin cream. Studies using this substance, instead of dangerous steroids and other unnatural drugs, may bring us important answers to skin problems from which so many people suffer. Why hasn’t this been studied more? Why isn’t it more available? Why isn’t information like this widely disseminated? There’s just no PROFIT in selling an un-patentable, nonprescription plant extract that can be inexpensively obtained from sugarcane pulp, soybeans, and pine oil.
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