Plants are not free from fat. Plants contain fats in the form of sterols and stanols. Research has shown that ingestion of such fats can help to reduce the amount of LDL within the body. LDL is considered to be the "bad" cholesterol, the one that can damage the function of the heart.

Nutritional supplements that contain sterols and stanols are now being added to many foods. The addition of such nutritional supplements does not change the taste of those foods, and it makes those foods more healthful. The addition to certain foods of nutritional supplements that contain sterols or stanols gives the consumer greater access to foods that are good for the heart.

Low fat cheeses contain these special nutritional supplements. Minute Maid Heart Wise Orange Juice gives the breakfast-eater a way to lower his or her "bad" cholesterol while also supplying the body with needed Vitamin C. Nature Valley Healthy Heart Chewy Granola underlines the advantage of using tasteless and healthy nutritional supplements.

Rice Dream Heartwise Rice Drink provides the nutritional supplement in a liquid form. Three different margarine-like products allow the consumer to cover toast or muffins with a spreadable form of one of the nutritional supplements. Benecol, Take Control and Heart Balance spreads all offer consumers a tasty way to fight harmful LDL.

Yoplait Healthy Heart Yogurt contains an LDL-lowering nutritional supplement. At the present time these are all flavored yogurts. Perhaps in the future Yoplait will introduce a plain yogurt. Such a plain yogurt could be used in cooking, making many home-cooked foods even more healthful.

These heart-healthy nutritional supplements are even showing-up in foods not always thought to be healthful. A prime example of that are the products manufactured by CocoaVia chocolates.