The Amazing Benefits Of Policosanol In Lowering Cholesterol
By www.menhealthonline.biz
Benefits of Policosanol
For over five years, scientists and researchers have published reports and studies concerning policosanol, a component derived from sugar cane. Many of these studies compare the cholesterol lowering effects to those of statin drugs, but unlike statin drugs, there are no known negative side effects of policosanol.
In the United States, there is much controversy surrounding the health benefits of policosanol, as there is with many natural health supplements. Critics of nutritional supplements, herbs and other natural remedies often claim that these products may have dangerous side effects that we may or may not know about.
They often say that there is not enough clinical research to support the use of this product.
In this case, the controversy is not related to feared side effects of policosanol. In the estimation of this author, critics cannot say that there is not enough scientific research showing the health benefits of policosanol. Because there have been numerous studies conducted. The controversy is basically political.
Policosanol is a generic term that applies to any natural extract of plant waxes. It can come from plants such as yams or be derived from beeswax. However, the most effective policosanol, with the most clinical research supporting its use as a health supplement, is derived from sugar cane. Specifically sugar cane that is grown in Cuba.
Many years ago the United States imposed a trade embargo against Cuba. Businesses in the United States are not allowed to trade or conduct business with Cuban interests.
Many scientists and researchers in the United States disregard the mountain of research that clearly shows the benefits of policosanol in lowering cholesterol, because most of the research was done in Cuba. And, American businesses are not allowed to purchase Cuban sugar cane.
Now, the mountain of evidence supporting the health benefits of policosanol is growing. According to the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, many supplements claim to provide protection from heart disease.
Of the 15 different supplements that the researchers studied, the two with the most supporting data were policosanol and garlic. These researchers did not differentiate between studies done in Cuba or elsewhere, but they only considered scientific data that was derived from large placebo controlled randomized trials.
According to the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition in Quebec Canada, policosanol from sugar cane is a promising resource in the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular