Foods Highest in Phytosterols

516 foods ranked by Phytosterols per 100 g.

These are the foods highest in Phytosterols, ranked by the amount per 100 g of the edible portion. Phytosterols are cholesterol-like compounds found in plants. Because they closely resemble cholesterol, they compete with it for absorption in the gut, which can modestly lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. They are found naturally in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, and are added to some fortified foods.

Read the full Phytosterols guide

Values per 100 g.

Food Phytosterols
Margarine-like, vegetable oil spread, approximately 37% fat, unspecified oils, with salt, with added vitamin D 9,060.00 mg
Oil, rice bran 1,190.00 mg
Oil, corn, industrial and retail, all purpose salad or cooking 968.00 mg
Oil, sesame, salad or cooking 865.00 mg
Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried 714.00 mg
Oil, wheat germ 553.00 mg
Seeds, sunflower seed kernels, dried 534.00 mg
Oil, safflower, salad or cooking, linoleic, (over 70%) 444.00 mg
Oil, safflower, salad or cooking, high oleic (primary safflower oil of commerce) 444.00 mg
Margarine, regular, 80% fat, composite, stick, with salt, with added vitamin D 410.00 mg
Oil, sheanut 357.00 mg
Salad dressing, mayonnaise, soybean and safflower oil, with salt 347.00 mg
Oil, cottonseed, salad or cooking 324.00 mg
Snacks, corn-based, extruded, puffs or twists, cheese-flavor 313.00 mg
Oil, poppyseed 276.00 mg
Oil, almond 266.00 mg
Oil, apricot kernel 266.00 mg
Oil, industrial, soy, refined, for woks and light frying 250.00 mg
USDA Commodity Food, oil, vegetable, soybean, refined 250.00 mg
USDA Commodity Food, oil, vegetable, low saturated fat 250.00 mg
Spices, sage, ground 244.00 mg
Oil, olive, salad or cooking 221.00 mg
Peanuts, all types, raw 220.00 mg
Salad dressing, mayonnaise, imitation, soybean without cholesterol 216.00 mg
Nuts, pistachio nuts, raw 214.00 mg
Margarine, regular, 80% fat, composite, tub, with salt 210.00 mg
Margarine, regular, 80% fat, composite, tub, with salt, with added vitamin D 210.00 mg
Oil, peanut, salad or cooking 207.00 mg
Spices, oregano, dried 203.00 mg
Oil, cocoa butter 201.00 mg

Vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes and fortified spreads. Amounts are per 100 g of the edible portion; your serving may differ.

Phytosterols — frequently asked questions

What foods are highest in Phytosterols?

Per 100 g, some of the richest sources are Margarine-like, vegetable oil spread, approximately 37% fat, unspecified oils, with salt, with added vitamin D, Oil, rice bran, Oil, corn, industrial and retail, all purpose salad or cooking, Oil, sesame, salad or cooking and Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried. See the full ranking above.

How much Phytosterols do I need a day?

There is no FDA Daily Value. About 2 g per day of added plant sterols/stanols is the amount shown to help lower LDL cholesterol.

What does Phytosterols do?

Phytosterols are cholesterol-like compounds found in plants. Because they closely resemble cholesterol, they compete with it for absorption in the gut, which can modestly lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. They are found naturally in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, and are added to some fortified foods.

Want the full story on Phytosterols?

See what it does, how much you need, deficiency and too-much, and more food sources.

Phytosterols guide