How to Buy Beta Sitosterol

Beta Sitosterol is a plant-derived phytosterol, or steroid alcohol, that occurs naturally in many plants and nuts. You can raise your beta sitosterol intake without buying supplements by increasing your intake of foods like avocados, pumpkin seeds and pecans, which are rich in the nutrient. But because this may be inconvenient for those who want more of the phytosterol for its purported abilities to help block cholesterol and shrink enlarged prostates, there are many over-the-counter beta sitosterol products on the market.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk to your doctor before starting a beta sitosterol regimen. Beta sitosterol products are designated as dietary supplements and not as drugs, but they are typically marketed with claims that they may help reduce cholesterol levels, shrink enlarged prostates and promote overall better prostate health. They should not be considered a replacement for approved drugs for these conditions, but with your doctor's consent, they may be an appropriate part of fighting high cholesterol and prostate problems.

• 2

  Browse the dietary supplement aisle of any drug store for beta sitosterol supplements, which are available over the counter without a prescription. This supplement may not be carried everywhere, and you may have a better chance of finding it in larger drug stores. It is sold by multiple supplement companies under a variety of brand names. If you are having trouble finding it on the shelf and there is a pharmacist on duty, don't hesitate to ask for help.

• 3

  Look in large vitamin or supplement stores, which are also likely to carry beta sitosterol among their products.

• 4

  Shop online for the supplement by searching on vitamin and supplement retail websites. To help you get started, check the Resources section below for a few links to different online retailers, each selling different brands of this supplement.

• 5

  Search for beta sitosterol in major online shopping aggregators like Amazon. In the Resources section, you can find a link to Amazon search results for this supplement. Searching on shopping aggregators like Amazon is an efficient way to compare prices and find new brands of beta sitosterol, because it allows you to search the offerings of multiple sellers at once.