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Red Yeast Rice Benefits
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Red yeast rice benefits have been known for ages in the Orient but it has only been fairly recently that the Western world took notice of these. According to several historical documents, red yeast rice has been taken internally in China since 800 A.D. for the purpose of supporting digestion, revitalizing the blood, and improving overall well-being.
Red yeast rice is a purple reddish type of fermented rice. It gets its distinctive color from the yeast monascus purpureus on which it is fermented on. Aside from medicinal uses, red yeast rice has also been used as a preservative and as coloring for food. The bright red color of peking duck, for example, is obtained from red yeast rice. It may also be found in such food items as fish paste and fish sauce. Owing to its pleasant taste, it also has been added to certain dishes to enhance their flavor. |
 The active constituents of red yeast rice include monacolin K, sterols, isoflavones, and mono-unsaturated fatty acids. The monacolin K component of red yeast rice has been found to be identical to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-classified drug lovastatin (which is the active ingredient in the Mevacor prescription drug).
The presence of the monacolin K ingredient in red yeast rice leads to a confusion on whether it is rightfully classified as a dietary supplement or as a drug.
The FDA position is that red yeast rice ought to be a regulated product due to its monacolin K content. As a result of this, several products containing red yeast rice were ordered banned over a decade ago. However, new red yeast rice products reappeared in the United States during the early 2000s. These did not seem to contain appreciable content of monacolin and were not marketed as cholesterol-lowering agents.
According to the website WebMD, studies have indicated that red yeast rice can considerably reduce levels of total cholesterol as well as LDL, also known as bad cholesterol.
One such study indicated that taking 2.4 grams per day lowered LDL levels by 22% and total cholesterol by 16% in a span of 12 weeks. Another study indicated that taking 1.2 grams per day lowered LDL levels by 26% in eight weeks. It hastens to add however that these studies have been fairly small and didn't last long enough to reveal the possible long-term effects.
Owing to its similarity to statin drugs, there exists the possibility that long-term use of red yeast rice may yield similar side effects such as muscle, kidney and liver damage. This is precisely one of the arguments for classifying this food as a possible drug.
Individuals already taking statin drugs should consult with their physician first before adding red yeast rice to their diet. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid the consumption of red yeast rice as it has not yet been established if the active ingredient is passed on to the child. |
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