Canada launches pant sterols-first probiotic yogurt

Parmalat Canada has launched the Astro BioBest Plant Sterols yogurt to Canadians, which offers a healthy and delicious option to consumers managing their cholesterol levels.

Each 100g serving of the yogurt is enriched with 50% of the daily amount of plant sterols recommended to help lower one's cholesterol.

The daily amount of plant sterols shown to help reduce cholesterol in adults is 2g that equates to an individual having to consume 100 pounds of raw vegetables daily or just two servings of BioBest Plant Sterols yogurt.

Health Canada warns that approximately 50% of Canadians aged 20 to 79 have high cholesterol, one of the main risk factors for heart disease, and recently approved the addition of plant sterols to a variety of select foods in May 2010.

Plant sterols are found naturally in vegetables, fruits, vegetable oils, legumes, nuts and grains and compete with cholesterol transporters in the body which help block the absorption of cholesterol into the blood stream and reduce build up along the walls of the arteries.