BECEL.CA is a website of
BECEL
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Becel
is a brand of margarine, produced by Unilever and sold in many territories
world wide.
It is sold in the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Poland and Australia under the name Flora. In Brazil, Canada, and Portugal
the margarine is sold with the normal name, Becel. BECEL.CA is the
Canadian website.
The name Becel originates from the
three letter acronym BCL (Blood Cholesterol Lowering).
When introduced, the
blood cholesterol
lowering effect was achieved by modifying the triacylglycerol (TAG) profile
of the fat used in the margarine: an increased level of poly-unsaturated
fatty acids (PUFA) reduces the blood cholesterol level (see e.g. A. Keys et
al, Serum cholesterol response to changes in the diet. IV. Particular
saturated fatty acids in the diet, Metabolism 14, 776-787 (1965)).
More recently, products were introduced under the "pro-activ" sub-brand.
These products are based on the effects of plant sterols and sterol esters
on blood cholesterol lowering (see e.g. M.B. Katan et al, Efficacy and
Safety of Plant Stanols and Sterols in the Management of Blood Cholesterol
Levels, Mayo Clinic Proceedings 78, 965-978 (2003)).
In recent years the Becel/Flora brand has been
extended to products other than margarine. Cooking oil, pot yoghurts and
yoghurt drinks are some of the non-margarine products launched by Unilever
under the Becel/Flora brand, all of which are designed to help lower blood
cholesterol level.
In the United States, Becel is sold under the name "Promise" by
Unilever USA.
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