Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice, also called Went Yeast, has been used for centuries in China as food and medicine.  It is made by fermenting a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus with red rice.  In Chinese medicine, red yeast rice lowers cholesterol, improves blood circulation, and improves digestion.

Red yeast rice contains chemicals that are similar to prescription statin medications.  One of these, monacolin K, has the same makeup as lovastatin (Mevacor).  Doctors prescribe statins to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Researchers are still determining if red yeast rice lowers cholesterol because of the statin-like chemicals (monacolin) or its content of unsaturated fatty acids, isoflavones, and phytosterols.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considered them drugs and removed red yeast rice products with monacolin from the market.

Possible side effects are headache, bloating, gas, dizziness, heartburn, and muscle weakness.  Additionally, if you are taking drugs to lower your cholesterol or blood thinners or have liver or kidney disease or cancer, you should not take them.  Grapefruit is also contraindicated because it increases potency.  Red yeast rice supplements should not be used while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Many who use this red yeast rice or statins also take Coenzyme.  Statins and Red Yeast Rice can lower the amount of CoQ10 in the body.  CoQ10 is an antioxidant that your body produces naturally and is very important in heart and muscle health and energy production.

CoQ10 has been shown to improve symptoms of heart disease, reduce blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and benefit diabetes.  It improves symptoms of Parkinson's disease, improves symptoms of muscle weakness and pain associated with statins, and decreases the occurrence of migraine headaches for those who suffer from chronic headaches.  Do not use CoQ10 during pregnancy or when breastfeeding.