Policosanol: Heart Protection

Policosanol from rice bran may help cholesterol and other health challenges Policosanol, found in the waxy surface of rice bran, like its sister substance of the same name derived from the waxy surface of sugar cane, is believed to reduce harmful bad cholesterol (low density lipoproteins, or LDL) levels, while increasing good cholesterol (high density lipoproteins, or HDL).

Like the policosanol found in the surface of sugar cane, policosanol from rice bran has baffled scientists in its ability to balance cholesterol levels, and some point to the high levels of octacosanol in it as perhaps a reason for its efficacy. Health supplement companies have begun aggressively marketing policosanol as a suitable natural replacement for the traditional statins used by doctors to help reduce cholesterol. Some companies even indicate that policosanol derived from rice bran is the preferred cholesterol-lowering agent, even to the one found in sugar cane.

Others claim otherwise. Policosanol derived from sugar cane, however, has clinical trials attached to it that have indicated drops in total cholesterol levels between eight and 18 percent and others that have shown considerable increases in HDL cholesterol while decreasing LDL levels.

However, policosanol derived from rice bran cannot make the same claims yet. Whether doctors choose to attempt trials with this form of policosanol in the near future is up for debate. Until then, consumers may have to sift through the natural health industry propaganda to form its own opinion on the supplement. Policosanol supplements are usually found in doses between five and 20 milligrams, and can also be found in cholesterol lowering blends with other herbs or ingredients.

Policosanol has also been tied to helping people with skin disorders and helping others to increase strength. Again, no clinical trials are known to have surfaced with regards to its efficacy in these arenas either. It is still recommended that anyone with high cholesterol or other symptoms that could possibly be benefited by using policosanol consult a physician prior to taking the supplement.

Recommended Policosanol Supplement

We have stumbled upon a company that produces a product that provides the highest quality of Policosanol is Xtend-Life Natural Products from New Zealand. Xtend-Life has one of the strictest regulatory environments in the world for the manufacture of dietary supplements, far exceeding U.S. FDA standards.

Their flagship product, Total Balance, contains standardized Policosanol, along with many other potent herbal supplement extracts, numerous vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other speciality nutrients, many of which are documented in this site.

We here at www.InstantHealthSecret.com personally take Xtend-Life's Total Balance as the foundation of our own health regimen and have achieved excellent results: we have noticed an increase in energy, mental acuity, and general sense of well-being.