Host: Experts agree that maintaining a healthy weight is a key strategy for anyone with heart health concerns. Controlling cholesterols and blood sugar are also important. That's why recent research published in the Nutrition journal is generating interest among doctors and consumers alike. The study looked at a Canadian weed last supplement called PGX. The result indicated that in addition to weight control benefits, PGX also shows promise in controlling total nLDL or so called bad cholesterol level. Dr. Michael Lyon of the Canadian Center for Functional Medicine is one of the study's authors. He says more studies on PGX are underway.
Michael Lyon: Our most recent clinical trial is I would say probably one of the most ambitious projects in terms of a study looking at obesity both from the point of view of looking at the effectiveness of a particular treatment as well as the underlying mechanisms that rule our behavior when it comes to food and appetite.
Host: Dr. Lyon explains that in a 21 day study, total blood cholesterol levels dropped by 14% in a group of patients who took PGX compared to only 8.3% with a placebo group. The study also indicated levels of LDL cholesterol dropped by 17% with PGX.
Joanne Thiessen: For myself, I didn't realize that I had very high cholesterol and that we have heart disease in our family. So when I became involved in this program, we did monitor the cholesterol was very high. After taking PGX for three months, my cholesterol was way down. So I really believe this product did save my life.
Ross Friesen: One of the biggest things I saw was with what is it done to my cholesterol. I had gone to the doctor, had gotten the blood work done, and then a few months later, had the blood work done again and they were just phenomenal changes. The doctor had never seen such drastic drop in cholesterol which was obviously very positive. It wasn't just from weight loss. As he said, weight loss wouldn't - along wouldn't do this.
Host: Well, no one is claiming PGX is a magic bullet, the research in anecdotal evidence indicate this supplement has a desirable side benefit. The proprietary combination of natural soluble fibers helps lower cholesterol and those using it for weight management. Martin Wender reporting.
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