The Great Health Store: Health: Benecol Smart Chews, Caramel, 120-Count Soft Chews

Enjoy the heart-healthy benefits of Benecol® Caramel Smart Chews.

Benecol® Smart Chews are a delicious, convenient, and safe way to help lower cholesterol. Each soft chew contains just 20 calories, while also containing 0.7 grams of plant stanol esters, an ingredient proven to reduce cholesterol.

Available in a delicious creamy caramel flavor, the chews are individually wrapped, and come in a convenient, 120-count resealable pouch. Take one to two great-tasting soft chews twice a day with meals or snacks and start lowering your cholesterol in as little as two weeks. Only available online, each chew provides one serving and and four grams of carbohydrates, and they can be used by those taking statin medication for additional cholesterol reduction.

What is Cholesterol?

You already know that some cholesterol is good and some is bad. But did you know that there are clear guidelines for cholesterol levels for average Americans and newly established guidelines for high-risk patients?

Cholesterol is:

Produced by the liver and other organs and also furnished in the diet through such food as meats, poultry, fish and dairy products.
Required by the body to insulate nerves, make cell membranes, and produce certain hormones.
Carried through the body by lipoproteins in the blood.

Two Types of Cholesterol

The Good	The Bad
HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) transports cholesterol from the body's tissues to the liver and other sites, where it may be broken down and excreted by the body. HDL cholesterol is commonly known as "good" cholesterol.	LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) transports cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. LDL cholesterol is commonly known as "bad" cholesterol.

How to Control Your Cholesterol

Many Americans have succeeded in lowering their LDL "bad" cholesterol through lifestyle changes. Eating right, exercising, and relaxing are some of the basic lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health. Your doctor can test your cholesterol level, or you can test yourself with a kit you can purchase at your pharmacy.

The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) identifies LDL cholesterol as the primary target of cholesterol management. Clinical research has shown that elevated LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, is the primary cause of coronary heart disease.

New Guidelines for High Risk Heart Patients Can Save Lives
Every year 1.2 million Americans have a new or repeat heart attack. A new set of guidelines has been released that specifically targets these high risk Americans. The new NCEP guideline determines that high-risk heart patients should lower their LDL "bad" cholesterol to a rock bottom 70. The previous NCEP guideline was 100.

LDL Cholesterol Level Guideline (mg/dl)
<100 (70 for high risk patients)	Optimal
100-129	Near optimal/above optimal
130-159	Borderline high
160-189	High
>190	Very high
Total Cholesterol Level
<200	Desirable
200-239	Borderline High
>240	High
HDL Cholesterol Level
<40	Low
>60	High

The name Benecol® brings together Bene, meaning "good," and col for "cholesterol." Only Benecol® Products have plant stanol esters, which have been proven to lower cholesterol.

Today, millions of people around the world are managing their cholesterol levels simply, effectively, and deliciously with the growing range of Benecol® products.

How do Benecol® Smart Chews work?
Benecol® Smart Chews work just like Benecol® Spreads to help reduce cholesterol levels. For best results, it is recommended to take two chews twice per day with food, along with a low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet.

Have any clinical studies been done to support the efficacy of Benecol® Smart Chews?
Over 25 published clinical studies support the safety and efficacy of plant stanol esters, the cholesterol lowering ingredient contained in Benecol® Smart Chews. Based on the totality of this scientific evidence on the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of plant stanol esters, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows its use in various foods and supplement products including Benecol Smart Chews.

What is the safety profile of Benecol® Smart Chews?
Plant stanol esters, the unique dietary ingredient contained in Benecol® Smart Chews has an excellent safety profile. In fact, plant stanol esters have been consumed by millions of individuals in Finland since 1995 and in other European countries and the United States since 1999.

Take even more control over your healthy lifestyle and join Club Benecol® for more information about Benecol® products. By signing up, you'll receive regular e-mail updates, as well as club member savings, new product information, and information on cholesterol management. Join today!