Right Direction Chocolate Chip CookiesTM lower cholesterol and improve lipid subfraction profile, lowering the risk of heart disease, according to a published study in The Journal of Nutrition (October).

The chocolate chip cookies, made with a combination of psyllium and plant sterols, are a tasty all-natural approach to reducing cardiovascular risk associated with cholesterol.

The study revealed eating two Right Direction Cookies daily showed a ten percent decrease in LDL cholesterol as well as shifting the LDL particles toward a less atherogenic pattern.

Normal cholesterol levels are usually associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular disease, but not always. Recent studies reveal small, dense LDL particles have been linked to increased formation of fatty substances and cholesterol buildup in the arteries, even for individuals with total cholesterol levels under 200 mg/dl.

The randomized, double blind study researched 33 healthy adults with moderately high cholesterol between the ages 35 to 65 at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. Participants were randomly assigned to the Right Direction Cookie group or the placebo cookie group.

Final results revealed a ten percent decrease of LDL cholesterol levels in the plasma of the participants of the Right Direction Cookie group. The decrease was in the worst kind of lipoproteins, those that were smallest and most likely to raise risk for heart disease. Body weight did not change and there were no changes in HDL (good) cholesterol. According to the Center for Disease Control, a 10 percent decrease in total cholesterol levels may result in an estimated 30 percent reduction in the incidence of coronary heart disease.

"Our results suggest dietary treatment with Right Direction Cookies significantly affected the total number of lipoprotein particles and reduced plasma concentrations," said Jay Udani, a key researcher of the study and Medical Director of Medicus Research. "LDL levels dropped due to the high amount of plant sterols and soluble fibers in Right Direction Cookies."

(China Daily October 6, 2006)