Is Red Yeast Rice a Natural Alternative for Statin Drugs? by Dr Sam Robbins

Red Yeast Rice is an extract that is made by fermenting rice with a type of red yeast grown on the rice with a traditional Chinese fermentation method. A study recently completed in UCLA after 17 studies in China concluded that red yeast rice lowers cholesterol by 11 to 32 %.

Why is it necessary to reduce cholesterol? After all, cholesterol is something that is produced by the body for maintaining the fluidity of cell membranes, for production of steroid hormones and Vitamin D and for distributing through the body, fat-soluble nutrients like Vitamin E, carotenoids and coenzyme Q10.

The trouble with cholesterol is that it is also imbibed from certain dietary foods. Excess of cholesterol combines with blood platelets and sticks to the arterial walls forming a plaque with time. As the plaque grows, the arteries become narrower and causing increase in blood pressure and atherosclerosis. The cholesterol which combines with blood is carried by low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and is termed the ‘bad’ cholesterol. The high- density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good cholesterol as it helps in breaking down the plaque and carrying away the cholesterol to the liver to be disposed off. An ideal condition would be a total cholesterol of below 200.

REALLY IMPORTANT TIP: RED YEAST RICE IS THE NEW NATURAL ALTERNATIVE TO REDUCE CHOLESTEROL. Click here to know the whole story of its effectiveness in the Doctor’s Report.

http://TheCholesterolBlog.info/week2/RedYeastRice

People with high cholesterol are often treated with statin drugs. But, many of them soon have to discontinue the drugs because of the severe side effects like muscle pain, weakness and liver dysfunction.

A study conducted on such a group of statin – intolerant high cholesterol patients with red rice yeast under placebo controlled environment showed a considerable decrease in LDL levels. Another important result was that the HDL levels remained unaffected. This indicates that red yeast rice only lowers the bad cholesterol. Side effects like elevated liver enzymes and weakness shown by statin drugs were not produced.

Red Yeast Rice has also been known to lower blood pressure levels by decreasing the plaque formation. It acts by inhibiting the co-enzyme HMG-CoA-reducatase which is responsible for the production of cholesterol in the body.

Statin drugs also lower the levels of CoQ10, which is used for energy production in every cell. It is present in large quantities in the heart muscles. When levels of CoQ10 go down, the heart is the first organ to be affected. Thus, it is not advisable to take statin drugs for a long time. Red Yeast Rice produces the same results as statin drugs at one-sixth the dosage and is therefore a safer alternative.

Though Red Yeast Rice has not shown significant side effects, it is not advisable for children, for pregnant and lactating women and for people with liver disorders. It is also to be monitored when given to patients already on a statin prescription. Red yeast rice products are not sold over the counter because of FDA regulations.

To know more about the safe usage of Red Yeast Rice please read the Doctor’s Special Report at http://TheCholesterolBlog.info/week2/RedYeastRice