Red rice yeast has been known for some time to have cholesterol-lowering properties. Targeting the bad LDL cholesterol that the liver produces, it is possible to lower these plaque-causing problems, improve blood flow, and even potentially treat HIV with this supplement. There are a lot of claims about red rice yeast about it being a miracle cure. How effective is this supplement? Do red rice yeast pills really work?
What Does the Research Have To Say?
According to Penn State Hershey, red yeast rice has been used for centuries in the Asia Pacific region as medicine and for food. It works because of a special type of yeast that is called Monascus purpureus is placed over the rice. It is believed that this supplement can improve blood circulation, lower cholesterol levels, and help improve digestion.
Researchers aren’t sure whether it is the monacolin K that red rice yeast naturally contains that lowers cholesterol or the combination of unsaturated fatty acids, isoflavones, and phtosterols in combination with the monacolin K that provide the benefits. In the United States, however, the FDA recognized that there was enough monacolin K in red yeast rice pills that they were classified as a prescription drug. Because of this, the FDA ordered all US supplements to be stripped of monacolin K in order to be sold.
There is no guarantee that a red yeast rice pill contains the cholesterol lowering compounds. It is not declared on the label of the supplement. Although it has been demanded to be removed from all supplements on the market today, because monacolins develop naturally within the product, it is possible to still purchase a supplement that has a therapeutic level that is capable of lowering cholesterol still today.
How Does Natural Red Yeast Rice Compare With Medicine?
There are a number of studies that have been performed to compare the benefits of red yeast rice pills to traditional prescription medications like statins. In 2008, a study compared this supplement to Zocor and both groups saw reductions in their overall cholesterol levels. The UCLA School of Medicine showed in a study of 83 people that only bad LDL cholesterol counts were affected when red yeast rice pills were taken over a period of 12 weeks.
An 8 week study of over 400 people showed even more encouraging results, documenting an average of over 30% lower bad cholesterol levels in people who took this supplement with an increase of good cholesterol of an average of over 20%. The average person in this study who took red yeast rice pills lowered their overall cholesterol counts by over 20% as well, proving its effectiveness as a natural medical supplement.
What does this all mean? That if you take a genuine red yeast rice pill, you’ve got the ability in your hands to improve your health. Look for supplements that contain monacolins to receive the maximum effect and you will be able to see for yourself that these pills really do work.