Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to cholesterol management.
Step One Foods is a functional food brand that sells snacks, which the brand claims can help naturally lower cholesterol levels. The brand claims that their food products are backed by scientific research, and can be a solution for consumers seeking a "statin alternative."
But is Step One Foods clinically proven to reduce cholesterol levels? Are the snacks healthy or unhealthy? Which ingredients lower cholesterol? And what was our experience purchasing and testing these snacks?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we review the clinical studies on Step One Foods to give our take on whether or not it's likely to reduce cholesterol levels.
We'll also analyze the ingredients in their snacks to give our take on whether or not they're healthy, as well as share our honest experience testing Step One Foods.
Key takeaways:
- Step One Foods is clinically proven to reduce LDL cholesterol
- Bars contain no unhealthy ingredients
- We currently recommend Step One Foods
Is Step One Foods Proven to Work?
Step One Foods funded a clinical trial published in a peer-reviewed journal called The Journal of Nutrition.
These results are impressive:
image source: https://www.steponefoods.com/
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels decreased by 8.80% in the patients consuming Step One Foods products twice-daily.
Total cholesterol levels reduced by an average of around 5%.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels increased by around 1%, which is a good sign because this type of cholesterol is associated with favorable health outcomes.
The trial only lasted 12 weeks, and trial participants were consuming Step One Foods only eight of those weeks.
Clinical research shows that high LDL levels are associated with increased mortality rates, so the fact that Step One Foods does appear to naturally reduce these levels in patients with high cholesterol makes this an effective functional food in our opinion.
Regardless, we’re impressed by the research backing these products and by the transparency of the brand to both fund this research in a legitimate manner, and to link to the research from their website, so that consumers (and researchers like us) can review it themselves.
We consider Step One Foods likely to be effective for cholesterol reduction, and would recommend that patients seeking a natural option for cholesterol reduction speak with their doctor about this brand.
We Tested Step One Foods
As the author of this article, I wanted to try Step One Foods myself to share my thoughts on the taste and overall product experience.
I purchased a box of the Lemon Almond bars from Whole Foods:
The taste is mildly sweet with a zest from the lemon. It tastes much more "natural" than sugar-sweetened bars like Clif Bars, and I really liked the taste.
I don't have high cholesterol, so I wouldn't use these bars for that reason personally.
However, I could see myself buying these as a healthier alternative to protein bars like GoMacro or Clif Bars.
Overall, I would rate Step One Foods 9/10, and I plan to purchase from them in the future.
Is Step One Foods Unhealthy?
All flavors of Step One Foods bars have similar ingredients.
The ingredients in the Apple Cinnamon Bar are shown below:
image source: https://www.steponefoods.com/
All of the ingredients are whole foods.
Apples and dates are used as natural sweeteners instead of refined sugar.
White chia seeds and walnuts are functional ingredients that help to lower cholesterol.
Nut consumption is proven in medical research to reduce LDL cholesterol levels in patients with elevated levels.
The researchers in the above-linked study also noted that eating a relatively small portion of nuts daily could cause reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 3.2%.
Plant sterols also have beneficial effects on cholesterol levels.
This is one of the reasons why doctors often suggest that patients with high cholesterol eat more fruits and vegetables.
A medical review published in the Current Atherosclerosis Reports journal found that plant sterols were effective for two reasons: they reduced cholesterol absorption from foods consumed, and also reduced circulating cholesterol levels already in the bloodstream.
Cinnamon is used as a natural flavoring ingredient.
As we documented in our review of Saigon cinnamon, this spice is proven to lower cholesterol levels on average. It’s one of the most well-studied nutraceuticals for this purpose.
We consider Step One Foods bars to be healthy because they're made with whole foods and free of questionable additive ingredients like artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners.
We recommend the Anytime Sprinkle, Apple Cinnamon Bars, Cranberry Pecan Bars, and Blueberry & Cinnamon Oatmeal.
We don’t currently recommend the Dark Chocolate Walnut Bars or Dark Chocolate Crunch Bars because they contain added, refined sugar.
Does Step One Foods Cause Side Effects?
Many consumers are curious about whether Step One Foods causes side effects.
This is a logical concern given that prescription medications used to treat high cholesterol can cause side effects.
The clinical trial on Step One Foods cited earlier in this article did not document any side effects.
We do not consider Step One Foods likely to cause side effects because the products are made entirely with whole food ingredients. There are no active drug ingredients likely to cause side effects.
Of course, any food could cause sensitivities or allergy to any individual, but our point is that there's no evidence that Step One Foods is more likely to cause side effects than any other food product.
Consumers should read the ingredient label to ensure there are no ingredients they're allergic to.
Step One Foods vs. Cholesterol Supps
Here's how Step One Foods compares to other popular nutritional and supplement products which purport to support healthy cholesterol levels:
Dose Cholesterol Support
Clinically shown to be effective.
However, this formulation contains a sweetening agent which is clinically shown to increase stroke risk significantly in some individuals.
We consider Step One Foods to be significantly healthier and safer, for this reason.
Winner: Step One Foods
JUST Egg
This food product is significantly more "processed" than Step One Foods.
It's packaged in single-use plastic, and contains a synthetic firming additives which is clinically shown to increase intestinal permeability, as we documented in our JUST Egg nutrition analysis article.
Step One Foods is both healthier and more likely to be effective.
Winner: Step One Foods
Humann Cholesterol Health Daily
Uses clinically-backed compounds, but the proprietary formulation itself doesn't appear to have the clinical backing of Step One Foods.
We consider Step One Foods to be the winner from a potential efficacy perspective.
Winner: Step One Foods
Who Founded Step One Foods?
The founder of Step One Foods has an impressive resume.
Her name is Elizabeth Klodas, and she’s a cardiologist who worked at the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins University according to the brand's team bio page.
These are both esteemed medical research organizations.
We always recommend that consumers look into the team behind the products and supplements they’re taking.
A team with doctors and scientists is much more likely to formulate an effective product based on our hundreds of product reviews on Illuminate Health, which is unsurprising because formulating a research-backed product with safe and effective ingredient doses is a challenging and medically rigorous process.
We consider this fact another good sign about the legitimacy and transparency of the Step One Foods brand.
Our Cholesterol Support Picks
Illuminate Labs Ceylon Cinnamon Extract is our top overall cholesterol support pick.
Cinnamon was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology journal to reduce triglyceride levels and total cholesterol levels "significantly."
MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ is our whole food cholesterol support pick.
MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ contains 100% soluble fiber, which was shown to reduce both total and LDL cholesterol in a meta-analysis.
Both of the products recommended in this section are free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Step One Foods Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Clinically shown to reduce "bad" cholesterol
- Clinically shown to improve "good" cholesterol
- Most flavors have no unhealthy additives
- We tested it and enjoyed the taste
- Healthier & safer than competitors
- Founded by a doctor with impressive background
- No side effects
Cons:
- Some flavors contain refined, added sugar
