Lower Cholesterol Naturally With Red Yeast Rice

Among people who are prescribed statins by their doctors, as many as 40% stop taking them in less than a year. Cost may be one factor, however, side effects are usually the reason. Doctors usually dismiss the existence of side effects.

Scientists at the University of California, San Diego investigated how doctors responded to complaints of side effects by their patients. Side effects normally reported included debilitating muscle weakness, pain, and memory loss. The findings might surprise you. Rather than reporting adverse events to the FDA, many doctors denied that the drugs could cause undesirable symptoms. They told their patients they were imagining pain, mistakenly attributing symptoms to aging, and refusing to believe or simply ignoring patients' complaints.

For centuries, red yeast rice has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to gently lower cholesterol. It is used to remedy indigestion, diarrhea, circulation and aid in spleen health. Studies in humans since the 1970's have shown that it can lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

UCLA conducted an eight-week study comparing red yeast rice with a placebo in 83 people with high cholesterol. The results, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that it reduced total and LDL cholesterol significantly.

Also published in the American Journal of Cardiology and other scientific journals, based on research in China, showed that among 5,000 people with high cholesterol, it significantly reduced rates of heart attacks and heart disease related deaths.

It is recommended for lowering unhealthful cholesterol levels. It should not be taken with statin drugs. Some experts recommend avoiding grapefruit juice while taking this supplement. Because it has a statin-like effect, it may deplete the body of certain levels of CoQ10. It is recommended that patients take 100 to 200 mg of CoQ10 when taking red yeast rice, or use a formula that combines it with CoQ10. This supplement can be found at your local health food store or vitamin and supplement stores.

Side effects of prescriptions drugs have always been my concern. Since prescription drugs always seem to mean additional prescription drugs to counter side effects, I have researched alternatives and found that homeopathic remedies were not only safer, but very effective. If you're looking to better your health through natural cures, you can visit my website at Healthy Foods For All

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Red Rice Yeast And Cholesterol

Red Yeast Rice has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine for all types of ailments such as soothing an upset stomach, promoting blood circulation, helping stop diarrhea and helping colic in infants. However, it wasn't until later that it was realized that red yeast rice actually aids in lowering cholesterol. Today, some people still choose to take red yeast rice instead of taking cholesterol lowering drugs.

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Managing Your Cholesterol Naturally

Because of organizations like the American Heart Association (AHA), we've learned a lot about cholesterol and how it affects our health. Thanks to these educational organizations, we know that high cholesterol levels can increase our risk for heart attacks and strokes and, by lowering these levels; we reduce these risks as well as keep our hearts and blood vessels healthy. We also know that our cholesterol levels can be improved through exercise, diet, and weight loss.



Although we've learned a lot through these educational organizations, there are still a few misconceptions about cholesterol. One of these being that not all cholesterol is harmful. There are both "good" and "bad" forms of cholesterol and a good balance between the two is what is needed for a healthy heart. Because so much emphasis is placed on lowering "bad" cholesterol levels, not enough attention is paid to the benefit of raising "good" cholesterol levels (HDL). Research states that raising HDL levels can provide even greater protection against cardiovascular disease than just simply lowering "bad" cholesterol levels. By raising HDL levels by simply 1%, the risk of heart disease can be lowered by 2% in men and 3% in women. Many studies have shown that low HDL cholesterol levels are an independent risk factor in heart disease. This is extremely important because we've learned that despite efforts to change a person's diet and exercise habits, some people's cholesterol levels are still unhealthy.



Prescription drugs to lower cholesterol are now available and have been proven by multiple studies to be very successful. The statins' effectiveness in reducing LDL ("bad") cholesterol has produced highly significant reductions in heart attacks and strokes. Although these medications do lower cholesterol levels, their side effects must be considered. Statin drugs can cause liver irritation, reduce CoQ10 levels in the body, are associated with myopathy, and are even linked to a rare and sometimes fatal condition called rhabdomyolysis. These drugs also have a relatively small effect on good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Thankfully, there are safe and effective solutions available that can help you manage your cholesterol levels naturally. However, first we must review what we know about cholesterol and heart disease.



Cholesterol is a fat-like substance needed to help digest fats, strengthen cell membranes, make hormones and insulate nerves. Although it is found in every cell of the body, cholesterol is mainly made in the liver, as well as cells lining the small intestine. Even though our bodies make all the cholesterol we need, we also get cholesterol from the foods we eat, such as egg yolks and organ meats. All foods from animal sources contain cholesterol, while plant derived food, including peanut butter and avocado, contains no cholesterol at all.



Cholesterol is important to many functions of the body. However, too much cholesterol in the bloodstream is extremely dangerous. After blood cholesterol reaches high levels, it builds up on the artery walls, and thus increasing the risk for blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. If the cholesterol clogs any of the coronary arteries, the heart's supply of oxygen and nutrients will diminish, resulting in coronary heart disease, angina, or even heart attack.



Because cholesterol and other fats can't dissolve in the blood and thereby can't travel on their own, they have to be transported to and from the cells by lipoproteins. The two major lipoproteins are low density lipoproteins (LDL or "bad cholesterol) and high density lipoproteins (HDL or "good cholesterol") LDLs carry cholesterol throughout the body to the cells and cause artherosclerosis by clogging up our arteries with fat. On the other hand, HDL prevents the fat buildup by carrying it away from the arteries and to the liver where it can be eliminated. Although high levels of LDL are associated with cardiovascular disease, high HDL can drastically reduce your risk of heart disease. As a result, the AHA has established three guidelines to keep your heart healthy: HDL levels about 40 for men and above 50 for women, LDL levels between 100 and 159, and a total cholesterol (HDL and LDL) of under 200.



Triglycerides are fats used as fuel by the body and a source for metabolism. These levels can fluctuate easily but increased levels are almost always a sign of too much carbohydrate and sugar intake. High amounts of triglycerides make the blood less capable of transporting oxygen and are another factor for cardiovascular disease. Thankfully, the HDL and LDL blend mentioned earlier can safely and effectively lower triglyceride levels.



It has been shown that high levels of HDL cholesterol are inversely related to coronary artery disease risk. However, what people do not know is that there are different subtypes of HDl, including HDL-2 and HDL-3. HDL-3 is produced by the liver and intestines and is responsible for scooping up free cholesterol from the blood vessel walls. The cholesterol carried by HDL-3 is chemically modified, forming a larger-sized subtype, known as HDL-2, or "mature HDL." HDL-2 transports cholesterol to the liver for processing and elimination, and its molecules are then recirculated in the blood stream. Research has shown that HDL-2 provides more heart-protection because it moves the cholesterol away from arterial walls, and holds a greater number of receptor sites which allows it to carry a larger amount of cholesterol to the liver.



Although many prescription medications have been developed to lower bad cholesterol, there are very few medications that target good cholesterol. Therefore, patients with naturally low HDL cholesterol, who can not alter these levels through diet and exercise, have limited medical options to reduce their risk of heart disease. Multiple nutrients have been clinically shown to favorably alter good cholesterol levels including: vitamins C, E, B6, B12, niacin, folic acid, magnesium and selenium, with protein-building amino acids, powerful antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, N-acetyle cysteine, and policosanol, and extracts of hawthorn, garlic, grape seed, and soy isoflavones. Although this HDL-boosting combination does not result in a significant reduction in LDL, antioxidants found in this formulation can help stabilize LDL and prevent build up in the arterial wall.



This formula combines essential vitamins and minerals, at levels recommended by the American Heart Association. It contains amino acids, antioxidants, and botanicals that have all been used safely for years. No serious adverse effects have been found following supplementation and the combination is safe to use with statin drugs.



Plant sterols, found in nuts, vegetable oils, corn, and rice are structurally similar to cholesterol and are able to block its absorption. Each day the liver receives about 800 mg of cholesterol from intestinal absorption through receptor sites. After entering these channels, the cholesterol is absorbed into the bloodstream. Since plant sterols look similar to cholesterol, they fit perfectly into these receptor sites and block the absorption, which allows the cholesterol to remain in our intestines where it can eventually be excreted. A large amount of plant sterols reduces the amount of cholesterol transported from the intestinal tract to the liver. This cholesterol reduction causes a decrease in LDL levels.



Even if a person does not have high cholesterol levels, reducing bad and raising good cholesterol greatly reduces their risk for ever developing chronic heart disease. Due to side effects, physicians do not normally prescribe statin drugs to people without actual heart disease of high LDL cholesterol levels. Instead, they recommend dietary changes. The HDL-boosting combination and LDL-lowering pantethine and plant sterols blend can effectively help people with heart disease, uncontrolled cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, or people who just want to improve their heart health.

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Red Rice For Cholesterol

Red yeast rice is used to colour a wide variety of food products, including pickled tofu, red rice vinegar, char siu, Peking Duck, and Chinese pastries that require red food colouring. It is also traditionally used in the production of several types of Chinese wine, Japanese sake (akaisake), and Korean rice wine (hongju), imparting a reddish colour to these wines.[2] Although used mainly for its colour in cuisine, red yeast rice imparts a subtle but pleasant taste to food and is commonly used in the cuisine of Fujian regions of China.

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Red Yeast Rice For Cholesterol

Rice is a staple ingredient in many modern kitchens. There are lots of different kinds of rice and each one has its own distinct properties and flavors.Chinese people have been known to grind the rice into a powder to use it more as a coloring than anything else. If you eat a Chinese dish with a nice red tinge to it, red yeast rice may be the responsible ingredient.

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Rice Bran Oil is it the secret method vs harmful cholesterol?

rice bran oil
Rice bran oil is mainly high in fatty acids and rich in unsaponifiables. It has quite a few anti-oxidizing qualities as well as some sunscreen properties. Rice bran oil inherently contains a high level of gamma oryzanol, a normal mixture of ferulic acid esters. Oryzan™ is processed by a non-conventional vegetable oil refining process to provide several distinctive properties. Rice Bran oil is abosolutely excellent for heart healthy cooking. Click here for more info in Rice Bran Oil

Rice bran oil is similar to peanut oil in fatty acid structure with a saturation level that is somewhat higher than that of traditional soybean oil. The much lower linolenic acid content of rice bran oil makes it more stable to oxidation than soy oil. Rice Bran Oil is definitely "The World's Healthiest" edible oil, that contain vitamins, antioxidants, nutrients and trans fat free. It's not just fine and flavorful, it can help decrease cholesterol, fight diseases, boost the immune system, fight free radicals and much more. Rice Bran Oil is quickly becoming a favorite in commercial frying to replace hydrogenated oils that contain trans fat. This is credited to rice bran oils health, flavor, performance advantages.
Rice bran oil's hidden secret lies in its antioxidants-1 to 2 percent of rice bran is gamma-oryzanol and tocotrienols. It will reduce cholesterol much better than olive oil, which is viewed as the heart-healthy choice. Rice bran oil is a healthful friendly oil. Rice Bran Oil can be used for cooking, frying, baking, and salad dressing. It has a extremely high smoke (burn) point , making it ideal for deep frying, pan or stir frying.Rice Bran Oil has a light-weight, delicate flavor for use on salads. Low flavor transference makes it exceptional for frying or baking without altering the taste of recipes. Rice bran oil has a very high smoke point at 254 C, helping to make it the perfect cooking oil for deep frying and stir frying. Rice bran oil's smoke point is 490 degrees F, more significant than even grapeseed oil (480 degrees) or peanut oil (320 - 450 degrees). This signifies that quite possibly in the hottest of conditions, rice bran oil won't smoke or break down.
Rice bran oil is made up of negligible quantities of calcium or phosphorus. Rice bran on the other hand, can consist of either a high level of phosphorus and little calcium, or high phosphorus and very high calcium dependent on the manufacturer. Rice bran oil is a non-conventional, inexpensive and low-grade vegetable oil. Crude rice bran oil is also a useful resource of high value added by-products. Rice Bran Oil, expressed from the husk of rice, is high in fatty acids. Its small molecular components make it a terrific selection for massage mixes due to its opportunity to penetrate the skin very easily.
Rice bran oil, which unfortunately was not well known worldwide, is slowly and gradually being regarded as a 'healthy' oil in India. We examined if rice bran oil had lipid cutting down effects in subjects with elevated lipid levels. Rice bran oil structured lipid (RBOSL) included 32.1 mol % caprylic acid. Positional investigation revealed 0.7 mol % caprylic acid at the sn-2 position and 47.8 mol % caprylic acid at the sn-1,3 positions. Rice bran oil soap is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, which usually are necessary to enhance healthy skin. While the soap is challenging to find in your neighborhood grocery store, you can create a rice bran oil soap at your own home for very little cost.
Rice bran oil is at the same time rich in a element identified as oryzanol, an antioxidant and free radical 'buster' more powerful than Vitamin E and discovered only in this oil. Rub this in your skin and sense the change - no, see the difference after only a few treatments. Rice bran oil acquired the smoke point test; how in relation to a taste test? We compared canola and rice bran oil in three applications: a basic vinaigrette, a beef stir-fry, and a pan-fried breaded chicken cutlet. Rice bran oil is rich in unsaponifiable oils and gamma oryzanol which are related with enhancing liver function and providing antioxidativequalities. Rice bran oil is also rich in all-natural forms of vitamin E.
Gamma oryzanol is also an powerful antioxidant. Investigation findings reported at a symposium backed by the American Heart Association show that Rice Bran Oil has the unique capability to lessen destructive LDL cholesterol levels up to 30% without lowering HDL or "good" cholesterol that guards against heart attacks, and that " .people would need to consume less than two tablespoons of the oil a day to get the benefits.".These health advantages are because of to rice bran oil's natural harmony of mono and poly unsaturates, unsaponfiables, plant sterols which reduce cholesterol absorption.
Fin out more on Rice Bran Oil.

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Red Cholesterol

Recent studies show that red yeast rice contains compounds collectively known as monacolins. Monacolins are similar in structure and properties to the most commonly used class of cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs, the statins. For example, red yeast rice fermented using the 'Went' strain of Monascus purpureus contains large amounts of monacolin-K. This is the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin, a naturally occurring statin and the active ingredient in the popular statin drug, Mevacor(TM).

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Red Yeast For Cholesterol

Red yeast rice is a form of rice fermented using red yeast. The Chinese have used this rice for years as a spice, food preservative and colorant, as well as a dietary supplement. For more than 1,000 years, these people have also used red yeast rice medicinally claiming it improved blood circulation, and relieved indigestion and diarrhea.

Doctor's Free Presentation on How to Naturally and Safely Reverse Heart Disease and Lower Cholesterol. Click Here or Visit http://HealthTipsThatWork.com/Cholesterol

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Are Guggul and Red Yeast Rice a Safe and Effective Natural Remedy For High Cholesterol?

The natural nutrients guggul and red yeast rice have been used for hundreds of years in the worlds oldest healing traditions, Ayurvedic medicine of India and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Red yeast rice, used since the 7th century A.D. in China , is actually a cooked rice by-product which has been dried, and then used for medicinal purposes. Traditionally, it has been used as a digestive stimulant and to improve blood circulation.

Rice

The benefits of red yeast rice are attracting attention today largely because of its effectiveness in safely lowering cholesterol. It's effectiveness for this purpose is backed by numerous reliable research studies as well as centuries of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Recent research has shown that people who had to discontinue use of prescription statin cholesterol drugs because of adverse side effects did well with red yeast rice and had impressive improvements in cholesterol levels.

The herb guggul has been used in Ayurvedic medicine traditionally for a wide range of conditions, including balancing cholesterol and triglyceride levels and it's effectiveness for these conditions is now backed by solid clinical research.

In one particular research study, after three months of using guggul the result was lower levels of total cholesterol and serum triglycerides (ave. 23% reduction) in the majority of participants.

Two other research trials in India confirmed that guggul can lower total cholesterol and raise HDL (so-called "good cholesterol"). Some people in the clinical trials reported mild digestive upset. There are no other reports of adverse side effects.

The effects that it has on blood cholesterol levels is comparable to prescription cholesterol drugs, but it is without the side effects since it is a natural plant extract.

Are Guggul and Red Yeast Rice Safe?

The safety of red yeast rice is sometimes called into question by some researchers. Their argument is that since it contains compounds that seem to produce an effect similar to cholesterol lowering statin drugs, it may produce dangerous adverse side effects as do the drugs. So far, current research does not support this theory, although more research is needed, for now there is no solid evidence that red yeast rice is unsafe.

Guggul & red yeast rice are natural remedies that are mild and gentle to the body. They can be used safely for extended periods of time without risk of addiction. Centuries of use and modern research have shown these nutrients to be safe and without significant side effects.

Since everyone responds differently, you may want to consult your health care provider before starting any supplementation program or to have any questions or concerns addressed.

Are Guggul and Red Yeast Rice a Safe and Effective Natural Remedy For High Cholesterol?

Max Wardlow is an independent natural health and nutritional supplement researcher and helps manage a website about natural remedies. Visit today to find out more about guggul and red yeast rice supplements.

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Lowering Cholesterol With Red-Yeast Rice

Red-yeast rice has been used for over a thousand years by the Chinese to improve blood circulation. Red-yeast rice contains several ingredients that may help control cholesterol levels. These include a number of monacolins, most importantly monacolin K. It also contains sterols, isoflavones, and monounsaturated fatty acids, or "healthy fats". Red-yeast rice is the fermented product of rice on which red yeast (Monascus purpureus) has been grown.

In China, consumption of red-yeast rice has been studied and found to reduce total cholesterol by 11-32%. Red-yeast rice is a dietary staple in many Asian countries including Japan and China. Typical daily consumption is between 0.5 to 2.0 ounces per day. It has also been used in the U.S. by the Asian Americans and has been shown to reduce cholesterol and prevent heart disease.

There are three major preparations of red-yeast rice: Zhitai, Cholestin or Hypocol, and Xuezhikang. Cholestin or Hypocol produce a concentration of monacolin K which is lovastatin the active ingredient in the medication Mevacor.

In studies done by the Chinese, Zhitai and Xuezhikang showed that total cholesterol was lowered by 10-30%, LDL cholesterol was lowered by an average of 10-20%, triglycerides lowered by 15-25%, and HDL increased by an average of 7-15%.

Studies at UCLA have shown that Cholestin reduced total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels but had no effect on HDL cholesterol.

These studies were for several weeks in duration, so the long-term effects of eating red-yeast rice is not known. However, many Asians have eaten red-yeast rice for generations without any particular problems; it is considered a traditional Chinese medicine.

In the United States, the FDA asked manufacturers of red-yeast products to remove them from the market because they contained lovastatin. The FDA cited a risk of severe muscle problems that could lead to kidney disease. So if you want to purchase red-yeast rice extracts you'll have to go to other countries or the Internet.

More research needs to be done before we can know about the long-term safety of red-yeast rice. We do know that some types of red-yeast rice may be more dangerous than others because of high levels of other substances such as citrinic acid.

There are purity and concentration issues that one must keep in mind. The amount of monacolin -- perhaps the most important ingredient -- can vary a lot. There are many different strains of the yeast. Different types of fermentation are used. One study of different brands of red yeast rice supplements showed that the amount of monacolin ranged from 0% to 0.58%.

Also there may be medication-interaction issues. It's best to consult with your medical doctor first before trying to lower your cholesterol with red-yeast rice.

About the Author: Tim Lazaro is a nutrition scholar and competitive, masters runner who writes on issues related to heart health, natural-food diets, and aerobic exercise. By employing the diets and life-style changes that he writes about, he has lowered his total cholesterol and lost weight. If you're sick and tired of fighting the high-cholesterol battle, give yourself a break and download his Free guide here: Five Secrets to Lowering Cholesterol

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Does Red Yeast Rice Lower Cholesterol Safely?

Does red yeast rice (RYR) lower cholesterol? Is it a safe natural alternative to the commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering drugs?

It has been used since the 7th century A.D. in China as both a food and medicinal nutrient. It has been noted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as having the benefits as both a promoter of blood circulation and a digestive stimulant.

Rice

It is a by-product of cooked rice on which red yeast has been grown. The rice is then dried, powdered and used medicinally.

Its effectiveness in lowering cholesterol is backed by reliable and consistent scientific data as well as centuries of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Based on a recent study, 62 people with high cholesterol took red yeast rice daily for six months, and the other half of the study participants received identical placebo capsules. They also made changes in eating habits, exercise and other lifestyle adjustments. After three months, the LDL (so-called "bad" cholesterol) levels of those taking the active supplements had declined 27%, compared to 6% in the placebo group.

The participants in this study were unable to continue treatment with prescription cholesterol lowering drugs, due to adverse and possibly dangerous side effects. There were no significant side effects reported while using RYR.

Is Red Yeast Rice Safe?

Those raising safety concerns say that since RYR contains natural statins similar in effect to cholesterol lowering drugs, it's logical that it would have the same risks. This argument is not valid because statins in prescription drugs have been chemically altered in a laboratory, whereas the statins in red yeast rice are naturally occurring.

Detractors often say that RYR is not regulated by the FDA and the supplements on the market vary in quality and may not be safe.

All dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA based on the guidelines of the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. Under DSHEA, supplement companies are responsible for determining that the nutritional supplements they manufacture are safe and that any claims made about them are substantiated by adequate evidence.

Although some critics argue that DSHEA is no regulation or excessively lax regulation, it seems that nutritional supplements are generally safe enough that this legislation does what it's intended to do. Almost never do you hear of dietary supplements causing extreme and/or dangerous side effects or death.

The same cannot be said about the pharmaceutical industry, where drugs that have proven to be dangerous are regularly recalled by the FDA and personal injury law suits are common.

Although acceptance in the mainstream medical community is slow, at this time, there is no solid evidence that red yeast rice is unsafe. Although there is some variation in the quality of nutritional supplements, and under DSHEA, consumers are responsible for locating high quality and safe supplements produced by firms that adhere to agreed upon good manufacturing practices (GMP).

Of course, you may want to consult your health care provider before starting any supplementation program or to have any questions or concerns addressed. Also, it's not recommended that you take red yeast rice if you're also taking prescription cholesterol lowering drugs.

At this time, research and centuries of use in traditional medicine show that the answer to the question, "does red yeast rice lower cholesterol safely?" is "yes it does." If you have high cholesterol and are unable to take prescription drugs because of side effects or you just want a safer, natural alternative, red yeast rice may be worth looking into.

Does Red Yeast Rice Lower Cholesterol Safely?

Max Wardlow is an independent natural health and nutritional supplement researcher and helps manage a website about natural remedies. Visit today to find out more about red yeast rice supplements

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Red Yeast Rice for Lowering Cholesterol

Red yeast rice is an alternative to more risky statin drugs that may help to lower LDL cholesterol and trigylcerides without as many side effects as statins. It has chemical compounds similar to statins, but at much lower levels and has been part of the Chinese diet for thousands of years. As such, has a much longer track record than high-dosage statins. Usually packaged in 600mg capsules, the suggested dosages generally vary from two 600mg to four 600mg capsules per day.Studies done in the US and China also show some evidence it may help to increase beneficial HDL cholesterol.

Combining Red Yeast Rice and Statins: Synergy with Fewer Side Effects

Rice

Some doctors and patients are suggesting that you first try red yeast rice to lower LDL cholesterol and once you know what that will do, then add a low dosage of a statin drug to improve the result further. This helps keep the statin dosage lower which helps avoid side effects. Further, some research has found that the compounds in red yeast rice work differently than statins and have an additive effect.

Not Recommended for Those With Liver Disease

To be cautious, you should have liver panel tests performed periodically to ensure that it does not adversely affect your liver function. To further reduce the risk of lowered liver function, you may also consider adding supplements beneficial for the liver such as milk thistle containing silymarin.

Don't Consume Grapefruit While Using Red Yeast Rice or Statins

If you are taking either of these supplements, you should avoid consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice products as they can interfere with liver metabolism.

Red Yeast Rice for Lowering Cholesterol

Learn more about red yeast rice and other recommended dietary supplements for lowering cholesterol here.

Alison Grey is a freelance writer and vitamin fanatic. She is also a regular contributor of Health and Nutrition topics at EmediaHealth.com

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Red Yeast Rice - China's Natural Cholesterol Busting Wonder

Cardiac and circulatory diseases are arguably one of the biggest health problems ever to plague mankind and are the recipients of huge amounts of media attention and the subject of exhaustive research. There are, however, many naturally occurring substances found in the food we eat that may aid in the fight against arterial disease. One of these groups or families of natural substances are the so called "Statins" that, among other effects, are believed to inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol. One such food type rich in a natural equivalent of the commercial drug Lovastatin is traditional Chinese red yeast rice.

Red yeast rice has been used in China for centuries as a natural treatment for digestive and circulatory ailments but did not achieve any great recognition in western nations until the connection was made between the naturally occurring statins in the rice and commercial drugs that were being used to treat high cholesterol in mainstream medicine.

Red yeast rice is not a sub species or specific strain of rice but rather normal white or brown rice that is inoculated with the Monascus purpureus yeast strain. How or why the Chinese started treating rice in this fashion is not clear but the rice, which turns red during the inoculation process, obviously proved to be beneficial not only as a food source but medicinally as a treatment for circulatory ailments as well.

In the 1970's researchers in the US were isolating the lovastatin compound from Aspergillus. At roughly the same time research in Japan was isolating monacolins for Monascus, a yeast identical to the one used to inoculate red yeast rice. The results of these two largely unrelated research efforts turned up one interesting commonality. This was that lovastatin and one of the monacolin isolates, monacolin K, are identical. Lovastatin went on to be marketed as the commercial prescription drug Mevacor and red yeast rice became a sought after, non-prescription dietary supplement.

Unfortunately is did not take the FDA long to make the connection between the RYR (red yeast rice) and Mevacor and due to the absolute similarity in statin content between the two it ruled that RYR was a regulable substance and ordered its removal from the commercial circuit. This decision was the subject of vigorous resistance, debate and litigation which has resulted in any RYR encountered today will have no lovastatin content. Sadly as the "purged" product is then no longer regulable, the exact contents are often unknown and it is difficult to establish what you are getting from product to product.

These moves have not completely destroyed the value of RYR as a cholesterol control agent though as the results of two recent, independent clinical trials indicate that the uses of RYR products still aid in containing both total and LDL levels. It should be stressed though that in both trials the application of RYR was accompanied by lifestyle change measures and the yeast compounds where therefore supplemental to complete cholesterol reduction regimens.

So, what is RYR exactly and how is it produced? Basically, as mentioned previously, common or garden rice is used as an incubation medium and subsequent carrier for the Monascus purpureus yeast strain. This is typically achieved by soaking the rice in water until it is saturated then steaming it to sterilize and pre-cook the grains. The rice is then either directly inoculated with live M. purpureus spores or exposing the grains to powdered RYR. This rice is then incubated at room temperature for 3 - 6 days during which time the grains become cultured with the yeast and turn a vivid red colour on the inside and a dark purple colour on the outer surface of the grains.

The cultured rice is then dried and can be powdered or re-cooked and used conventionally in table dishes or as a pasteurized paste. Of course at this point the statin content of the RYR is far higher than anything bough in commercial supplement form and caution should be used when consuming the RYR as muscle pains are commonly reported by statin users. RYR prepared in this fashion has been used in China since the Tang Dynasty in 800 A.D where it was used as a tonic, digestive aid and a treatment for circulatory ailments. The continued use of any substance for that length of time is a sure indication of some form of efficacy and this concept is backed up by contemporary scientific and clinical research which is a clear indicator that RYR products are, indeed, beneficial in the treatment of high cholesterol.

From a commercial dietary supplement perspective one should try and remember that the basic principles apply to red yeast rice products that do to all foods, supplements and medication. First consult a medical professional and only use these products if they are cleared by the doctor. Do some legwork on any potential products you intend using and try and establish the credibility of the manufacturers and the accuracy of the ingredient lists. This is important as it is believed that some manufacturer's products contain virtually pure monacolin K or are enhanced with pure lovastatin. Statin drugs have been shown to be the cause of liver and muscle damage so caution is advised.

Apart from that, red yeast rice appears to be a legitimate, natural source of compounds that are proven to reduce or at least aid in reducing cholesterol which would make RYR a valuable supplement which, when used sensibly, will produce positive nutritional results at the very least.

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Brown Rice - The Secret to Lowering Cholesterol and Weight Naturally

One of the secrets about nutrition is to eat food as close to its natural form as possible. This means that we should avoid canned, processed, refined or frozen food as much as possible. The Japanese are known for their diet comprising plenty of raw (natural) food and they drink plenty of green tea (which is the least-processed tea of all). Not surprising, the Japanese are generally in better health shape compared to people in the other developed nations.

In the same logic, we should be eating brown rice instead of white rice (which is refined rice). Nature has it that every brown grain would contain vitamin B complex, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, iron, fiber and essential fatty acid. These nutrients aid our body in the production of energy, blood cells, connective tissues, hormones, aid in calcium absorption, blood-sugar regulation, fat metabolism and maintain healthy nervous system. These nutrients are found typically on the surface of the brown grain.

Unfortunately, brown rice has a shorter shelf life, prompting manufacturers to process it into white rice. The process involves polishing (or stripping away) the surface of the brown grains. As a result of the polishing, white rice would have lost as much as 90% of the surface nutrients. To improve the nutritional value of white rice, manufacturers are required by the FDA to enrich it with vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, not all of Mother Nature's nutrients can be synthetically restored. Thus, white refined rice is nutritionally inferior compared to brown rice.

There is a lot of goodness in brown rice. Brown rice contains natural anti-oxidants. Brown rice is less constipating than white rice, making it suitable for those with weak stomach. Brown rice also helps the female to maintain her body weight. According to the Harvard Medical School which studied 74,000 female aged 38-63 years over a 12 year period, those who consumed refined grains (white rice and flour) tend to put on weight compared to those who consumed whole grains (such as brown rice). This is probably due to the higher fiber content in whole grains. Finally, a diet high in fiber is known to lower cholesterol, so those who are concerned about their cholesterol should benefit from consuming brown rice and whole grain products.

Lyn P. writes on various topics of health and nutrition. The above article was published in the Cholesterol Diet Secrets mini course (http://www.Cholesterol-Diet-Secrets.com/home), a website that provides tips for reversing the effects of cholesterol without prescription drugs.

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Lowering Cholesterol - Is Red Yeast Rice an Effective Home Remedy for High Cholesterol?

One of the best-known over-the-counter nutritional supplements for naturally controlling your cholesterol is a product called Cholestin, which nowadays contains a sugar cane derivative called policosanol. Before the makers of Cholestin began making their product with policosanol, however, they used a natural product that contains exactly the same chemical that is in the cholesterol drug Mevachor. That natural product was red yeast rice.

Red yeast rice does not contain a chemical that just works the same way as the statin drug Mevachor (lovastatin). The yeast actually makes Mevachor. When the makers of the older formulation of Cholestin learned that Chinese researchers had confirmed that the fungus can be used to lower both cholesterol and triglycerides, nobody was paying a whole lot of attention to Chinese research.

The natural products maker Pharmanex ran its own clinical trials at the University of California at Los Angeles and confirmed that people with high cholesterol who take red yeast rice can lower their LDL levels by an average of 22 per cent.

These findings meant that the supplement not only was as effective as a prescription statin drug, it worked better than most. And since anybody with the technical expertise can grow red yeast rice without paying royalties on a patent, the product was much, much less expensive than the comparable prescription drugs.

You might have guessed by now that the FDA was not going to allow a natural product that really does lower the "bad" LDL cholesterol to stay on the market.

That's in spite of the fact that the older version of Cholestin was purified, standardized, and clinically tested. That's in spite of the absence of reports of rhabdomylosis (muscle tissue breakdown) as an occasional side-effective of prescription Mevachor. (It's possible other compounds in the yeast prevent side effects.)

The FDA forbade the manufacturer of any clinically tested, standardized, and proven effective red yeast rice supplement.

But it allows red yeast rice that isn't standardized for known purity, effectiveness, and safety. Isn't that just bizarre? Banning the standardized supplement protected a pharmaceutical company's bottom line.

You may read from time to time that red yeast rice supplements are more effective than statin drugs at lowering cholesterol, and, except for the FDA's intervention, that would be true. In other countries where red yeast rice is treated like any other drug, however, new clinical studies come in nearly every year showing that it can in fact lower cholesterol in healthy people and in people at risk for heart disease.

In addition to writing about what is the safest medicine to lower cholesterol, author and pharmacological chemist Robert Rister discusses natural remedies for over 100 conditions at his Savvy Natural Healer website.

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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.

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