Red Yeast Rice and Cholesterol - Is It a Safe Way to Reduce Cholesterol?

Red yeast rice and Cholesterol seem to be a better combination to lowering the use of statins through prescription drugs. Although statin drugs are widely used to help treat problems with high cholesterol, there are a couple of problems with the use of these drugs. First, these drugs can bring with them a variety of nasty side effects, and second, you will find that these prescription medications can be rather expensive as well. If you want to save money and go a more natural route to lower these levels, one option you may want to consider is this: red yeast rice.

What is Red Yeast Rice

First, you may be wondering what exactly this type of rice is anyway. Well, red yeast rice is actually a yeast species fermented product and it is grown on rice. In China, it has been used for hundreds of years for non medicinal and medicinal purposes. There are actually a variety of compounds found in these rice that are much like statins. They are called monacolins and they help to inhibit the enzyme in the liver that makes cholesterol. There is even one monacolin in this product that is identical to the chemical that is used in the drug lovastatin.

Although red yeast rice was something rarely heard of in the past, within the past few years researchers have been looking further into this rice to see whether or not it really does help to reduce these levels in a safe way. In one trial done back in 1999 within the United States, studies did show that good cholesterol levels were increased and bad levels were lowered in patients that used the these rice.

Red Yeast Rice and Side Effects

One of the main reasons that people are looking for natural alternatives to statins to lower cholesterol is because of the side effects that are common when using these drugs. Studies have shown that many side effects can occur with these medications, including myopathy, or muscle pain. However, when it comes to red yeast rice and cholesterol, this natural option has shown that it can provide similar results to the statin drugs without the side effects.

People who have had difficulties taking statins have found that this alternative treatment provides a way that they can lower their cholesterol without those adverse side effects.

Studies are continuing on this unique natural ingredient and some of the studies have been quite impressive. For people who have difficulty with statins, those who want to choose a natural route, and for those who want to avoid the high cost of prescriptions, red yeast rice does provide another option to consider that can help to significantly lower blood cholesterol levels.

Natural options do exist today to help lower cholesterol without the use of prescription drugs. You can learn more about natural supplements and other options for lowering cholesterol by visiting http://www.naturalcholesteroltreatment.net now.

From Rajagopalan, A strong advocate of natural healthy living.

My Links : le creuset enameled cast iron 9 quart round french kitchenaid 10 piece cookware set