NOW FoodsSupplements, Beta-Sitosterol Plant Sterols with CardioAid®-S Plant Sterol Esters and Added Fish Oil, 180 Softgels

This review is for using this product for improving cholesterol #'s. This is just one of the products I used.I've had mixed results with cholesterol lowering supplements and I have done a lot of research on them in the hopes of avoiding going on a statin. I've taken cholesterol supplements and had my cholesterol go down. I've not taken them and had my cholesterol go up. I've also taken them and seen no change. That being said it is definitely worth a try if you want to improve your lipids and avoid a statin.I was taking this in conjunction with other supplements, all that have some scientific research proving they work. I did see improvements in my lipid panels when I took various supplements but was never able to tell what was helping the most. When I didn't take the supplements my #'s would go up, but lately despite taking all of these supplements my #'s were high and I'm now on a statin and not taking any of them anymore. If you are concerned about your cholesterol I would strongly suggest talking to your Dr about a Coronary Calcium Scan as taking supplements can get fairly expensive. After my last lipid panel results came back elevated I went for the scan and my Dr and I decided to go on a statin instead of spending $750-$1000/year on supplements. For the record my CC Scan cost $100, most insurance will not cover it, but it was the best $100 I have ever spent on health care.For the record I had the best test results when taking the following supplements each day:Flax Oil 2 x 1000mgKrill Oil 2 x 1000mg (fish worked too but I hated the after taste, none of that with krill)TR Niacin 3 x 500mgSytrinol 2 x 150mgCoQ 10 1 x 100mgPantethine 3 x 450mgPlant Sterols 3 x 800mgGlucomannan 3 x 1150mgThese were all spaced out AM, Lunch, PM.Comparing my worst and best lipid #'s from blood tests from a lab, these supplements did the following:Total - Lowered 60 points - 22%Bad - Lowered 53 points - 27%Good - Increased 15 points - 22%Tri-G's - Lowered 37 points - 25%Good to Tri-G Ratio - Worst was 2.62, while on all these went as low as 1.75 (Harvard Med study lists this as possibly the best predictor of heart attack risk). Ideal is below 2.It should be noted that I rarely eat any meat other than fish/shell fish...rarely eat egg yolks...and have a fairly healthy diet...mainly my lipid issues are genetic.

I started using this several years ago and even at half a dose along with a saw palmetto at half a dose, of course the premium standardized type, had tremendous impact on reducing or eliminating the need to go to the bathroom throughout the night. The capsules are quite large but unlike many other supplements the taste of this is not too bad so if you pop it in your mouth with some coffee or food or another type of drink you barely even notice it so that's an option.

I take this as a nutritional supplement. I like that it includes fish oil and lecithin. I’ve read a lot about lecithin and I have read pros and cons about the cardiovascular benefits and I guess that is an open issue, but I like it personally.I keep these gel caps in the cupboard at room temperature, and they keep well. My only complaint is that they are sticky. I often have to sharply rap the container against the container to get the gel caps to break loose to get them to come out of the container. Sometimes they slightly stick to my fingers.The gel caps are on the large side; however they are easy to swallow, and I take them in the morning on an empty stomach, and they do not upset my stomach at all and I have no GI side effects.

Now Foods Supplement of Beta Sitosterol is great value for the money. The pills are easy to swallow, are effective and work well with my other supplements.

Excellent value - much more expensive other places. Men will take this supplement IF they research why this supplement should be taken.

I bought this product because I heard that it can lower Cholesterol. I wish I would have read the fine print on the label before I bought it. Why? On the label, it says, "Supports healthy cholesterol levels already within the normal range". So I have to ask myself..."What if my cholesterol is NOT in the normal range? What if I bought this product in hopes that it would lower my high cholesterol?" Did I waste my money?I will use the entire bottle, as directed, and then I'll find out for myself.

I have been taking 2 pills daily for just over 2 weeks now and sometimes can sleep thru entire night without having to go to the bathroom. I am 65 and have had an enlarged prostate for 15 years. I was taking 2 saw palmetto pills per day and that worked for several years, but much less so in the last year. I was getting up 3 or more times per night depending on how much fluids I drank. From reading another review on this product it said the active ingredients are more soluble in fat than water. I can't confirm but I do take these after eating something. Hopefully it continues to work.

I was enjoying this product and felt it was helping lower my cholesterol. But the last two bottles I received have had the capsules stuck together and it's hard to tear them apart to get them out of the bottle. This last bottle I bought has almost all of the capsules stuck together in one large mass. They are so stuck I cannot pry them apart to get them out. Most of the bottle is completely unusable to me. I tried to return or replace the product but Amazon spun me in circles and I could not accomplish either option. Find a product that has better quality capsules.