What is Red Yeast Rice?
Red Yeast Rice has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries due to its powerful health benefits. It is a special type of rice, fermented by a particular type of mold called Monascuc ruber.
The compound which gives Red Yeast Rice its powerful potential is called monacolin K. As it happens, this molecule is also used in prescription medication to help lower cholesterol.
Red Yeast Rice has the potential to improve many health implications such as cancer, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. However, it is most commonly used to lower cholesterol levels and improve heart health naturally.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the most common cause of death in Ireland, with over six thousand people dying from heart attack each year. However, it is thought that up to eighty percent of these deaths are preventable through measures such as improving diet and lifestyle.
High cholesterol is a major factor contributing to heart disease by causing arteries to become clogged and stiffen, reducing blood flow and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Nevertheless, reducing harmful cholesterol levels can be achieved through medication, a healthy diet and increasing levels of exercise.
Consuming a Red Yeast Rice supplement is a more natural alternative to cholesterol lowering medication and has also been found to have fewer side effects than prescription drugs. In a high-quality scientific study called a randomized control trial, they found that red yeast rice supplementation caused less side effects such as fatigue than a medication called simvastatin while producing the same cholesterol lowering effect than the medication.
Another high-quality scientific review called a systematic review, which compiles the results of many high-quality studies found that when red yeast rice was used alongside statin drugs, it was safe and effective in lowering total cholesterol levels, and more specifically the harmful type of cholesterol called LDL cholesterol. In addition, this combination was effective in lowering fats in our blood and blood pressure.
Red Yeast Rice may also be useful in improving the function of our blood cells by increasing their flexibility and adaptability. Maintaining healthy blood vessel function is another crucial aspect of improving heart and vascular health.
Sona Red Yeast Rice Provides a standardised source of Monacolin K, a natural substance which contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels. This beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 10mg of Monacolin K from fermented Red Yeast Rice preparations.
References:
Benjamin, E.J., Blaha, M.J., Chiuve, S.E., Cushman, M., Das, S.R. and Deo, R., 2017. Comité de Estadísticas y del Subcomité de Estadísticas de Ataque Cerebral de la American Heart Association. Estadísticas de enfermedad cardíaca y de ataque cerebral. Información actualizada para 2017:Informe de American Heart Association. Circulation, 135, pp.e146-603.
Cicero, A.F., Fogacci, F. and Banach, M., 2019. Red yeast rice for hypercholesterolemia. Methodist DeBakey cardiovascular journal, 15(3), p.192.
Nguyen, T., Karl, M. and Santini, A., 2017. Red yeast rice. Foods, 6(3), p.19.
Xue, Y., Tao, L., Wu, S., Wang, G., Qian, L., Li, J., Liao, L., Tang, J. and Ji, K., 2017. Red yeast rice induces less muscle fatigue symptom than simvastatin in dyslipidemic patients: a single center randomized pilot trial. BMC cardiovascular disorders, 17(1), pp.1-7.
Xiong, X., Wang, P., Li, X., Zhang, Y. and Li, S., 2017. The effects of red yeast rice dietary supplement on blood pressure, lipid profile, and C-reactive protein in hypertension: a systematic review. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 57(9), pp.1831-1851.