Policosanol—A Miracle Nutrient for Your Heart

Did you know there’s a natural substance derived from, of all things, sugarcane that’s good for your heart? That’s right. It’s called policosanol, and although it comes from sugarcane (where common table sugar comes from), it is not sugar at all.

Scientists were first excited about policosanol because it was shown to actually block the manufacture of cholesterol, thus lowering blood sugar levels of cholesterol while having no side effects. In other words, it can compete with the prescription cholesterol-lowering medications known as statin drugs (such as Zocor, Pravachol, Lipitor and Mevacor) without affecting liver enzymes, beta-carotene levels, Co Q-10 levels, or causing any other problem.

Studies continue to show that policosanol can lower “bad” LDL cholesterol 15 to 20 percent and raise “good” (or protective) HDL cholesterol by 10 percent.

In addition to lowering cholesterol, policosanol inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol has to be oxidized in order to cause its damage to arteries due to inflammation in the artery lining. If LDL is not oxidized, it is not deposited. Policosanol stops this process.

Policosanol also inhibits the formation of blood clots. (It is the blood clot that forms from the ruptured plaque in artery walls that causes most of the artery blockage that leads to a heart attack.) And for added protection, studies show that policosanol combined with aspirin works better to prevent the formation of blood clots than either one alone.

The benefits of this miracle nutrient seem endless. Another large study showed that people who took policosanol had much lower rates of hospitalization due to heart disease. Even the more serious coronary conditions, such as heart attacks or sudden onset of angina (chest pain), were fewer in people taking the natural supplement.

Policosanol has also been evaluated in post-menopausal women who are at a significantly increased risk for heart disease, people who are well over 60 years of age, and people with blockage in their peripheral vessels (arteries leading to the legs). All have shown good results.

Policosanol doesn’t interfere with blood thinners, nor does it interfere with blood pressure-lowering drugs, such as calcium channel blockers, beta blockers or diuretics. Policosanol also works well with prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, thyroid drugs and Digoxin. In fact, all of the common medications do well with policosanol.

Heart disease is real, but even more real is the provision God has given us to stop the progression of the disease and protect our arteries. Policosanol is that miracle nutrient—a simple derivative from natural sugarcane. Isn’t it like God to use simple things to confound the wise?