Index:

  • What is the best red yeast rice supplement?
  • Supplements based on red yeast rice: what they are 
  • Red yeast rice: monacolin K 
  • Red yeast rice, characteristics
  • Monacolin K and lovastatin
  • Good cholesterol and bad cholesterol: the differences
  • Normalize cholesterol levels with red yeast rice supplements
  • Red yeast rice supplements: side effects 
  • Red yeast rice: how long to take it for 
  • Red yeast rice: can it be stopped?
  • Taking red yeast rice every other day 
  • The best red yeast rice supplements

What is the best red yeast rice supplement?

Today we will talk to you of food supplements with fermented rice, trying to answer some questions including: what are supplements to reduce the level of cholesterol and when to take them? What are the side effects and contraindications relating to red yeast rice? And lastly, better the supplements of Omega 3 or of red fermented rice?

Here is a detailed overview of this type of food supplements, able to clarify any doubts about it.

Supplements based on fermented red rice: what they are

Today there are some food supplements which are used by people to control blood cholesterol levels. Among these supplements there are precisely the supplements based on fermented red rice. Knowing these supplements precisely is very important, since their use can give rise to unpleasant side effects or contraindications. Here's everything you need to know.

The food supplements with fermented red rice are now widely used in our country, in order to control blood cholesterol levels. A too high level of cholesterol can be dangerous for our body since it represents a concrete risk for cardiovascular diseases: it is important to underline that the latter represent the leading cause of death in Western countries.

Red yeast rice supplements, even if they are not recognized as real medicines, can however give rise to some side effects, some of which are particularly unpleasant . For this reason, the intake of these supplements must necessarily be controlled by a doctor.

Red fermented rice: monacolin K

Among the cardiovascular prevention strategies suggested by health professionals, there has been the intake of food supplements for some years with fermented red rice. The reason for the use of these supplements for the purpose of preventing cardiovascular disease is the presence in them of a substance called monacoline K. This substance has an effect on our body comparable to what happens with the intake of statins, with all the pros and cons. Statins are contained in anti-cholesterol drugs. Monacolin K actually acts in our body like a real medicine.

Red fermented rice, characteristics

Red fermented rice is obtained from the fermentation of common rice from kitchen. A particular fungus called Monascus Purpureus acts during the fermentation. This mushroom has been used in China for millennia for the production of rice wine.

We can state that the scientific interest of red rice is mainly based on the action of the Monascus Purpureus fungus [link . During the course of its activity, the latter is able to produce important concentrations of monacolins during the fermentation phase, including the aforementioned monacolin K. It is precisely to the latter that the important ability to lower cholesterol is attributed.

Monacolin K and lovastatin

The pharmacological action of monacolin K, as well as its chemical structure can be associated with lovastatin: it is a drug classified in the category of statins and mainly used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

In fact, monacolin K acts in a similar way to lovastatin, by inhibiting an enzyme that plays a role of primary importance in biosynthesis of cholesterol.

Good cholesterol and bad cholesterol: the differences

When it comes to controlling cholesterol levels, it is good to specify the important differences that there are tbetween good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Let us first of all try to understand what cholesterol is.

Cholesterol is a fat produced in part by our body and used by it for the digestion process. In fact, cholesterol produces vitamin D, promoting the construction of cell walls. Cholesterol is transported in the blood by means of particular lipoproteins, which differ according to their density and size. For this reason it is important to distinguish the cholesterol that binds to low-density lipoproteins, called LDL or bad cholesterol and the cholesterol that binds to high-density lipoproteins, called HDL or good cholesterol.

Bad cholesterol can be deposited in the walls of the arteries potentially creating significant damage, while good cholesterol has an action of aid and support in the removal of bad cholesterol from the walls of the vessels subsequently transported to the liver.

Normalize cholesterol levels with red yeast rice supplements

Numerous studies have shown that taking rice-based supplements red yeast is effective in normalizing total blood cholesterol levels.

We want to mention in particular a study conducted on 324 dyslipidemic patients, who, after using red yeast rice supplements for 8 weeks, showed a 23 percent reduction in total cholesterol in your blood.

The study conducted demonstrated that the intake of red yeast rice-based supplements is more effective than the administration of equivalent doses of lovastatin.

The action of these supplements is not limited to the properties of the aforementioned monacolin K, but to a set of combined actions.

From a commercial point of view, unlike statins, the production of fermented red rice-based supplements is permitted: however, the Ministry of Health imposes a limit set at 10 milligrams, to ensure its safety of use. The Ministry of Health also provides that when taking supplements based on fermented red rice, due to the presence of monacolin K, it is advisable to consult the opinion of a doctor.

Obviously, taking these supplements is absolutely not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women and for people undergoing treatment involving the use of hypolipidemic drugs.

Supplements based on red yeast rice: the side effects

Let's see what are the main side effects caused by taking rice supplements fermented red. Some organizations and scientific bodies underline how the use of this type of food supplements can sometimes expose consumers to potential risks to their health: the latter characterize in particular particularly sensitive people due to genetic predispositions, or with pathologies or treatments in progress.

Among the main adverse reactions and contraindications reported and found in some users of based supplements of fermented red rice there are: 

  • Muscular pain and rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle cells)
  • Gastrointestinal reactions
  • Skin reactions
  • Liver damage
  • Stomach pain or heartburn
  • Headache
  • Gastroesophageal reflux
  • Intestinal bloating and flatulence

From the foregoing it clearly emerges that the risk of taking these supplements is comparable to that which characterizes statins.

Red fermented rice: how long to take it for

Due to the presence of monacolin K in this supplement, it is advisable to cycle its intake in established with your trusted doctor, perhaps supported by the opinion of a dietician.

Red yeast rice: can it be stopped?

As specified in the previous paragraphs, taking supplements based on red yeast rice can give give rise to some contraindications. People taking these supplements may experience severe headaches and some gastrointestinal disturbances.

In case of side effects, in agreement with your trusted doctor, it is advisable to stop taking these supplements immediately.

Alternate day intake of red yeast rice

In some cases, taking a supplement containing red yeast every other day may be sufficient fermented red rice. Administration every other day may in fact be sufficient for cases of cholesterol between 200 and 300 mg/dl.

The best red yeast rice supplements

Among the best red yeast rice supplements available on the market there is certainly Bromatech Kogi Plus . This is a food supplement with monacolin K, able to help the body maintain normal blood cholesterol levels.

This supplement must be taken daily to allow the effectiveness of red yeast rice on cholesterol. This red yeast rice supplement is often mentioned in forums dealing with the topic of supplements.

Many opinions on the web also mention Lovachole as one of the best food supplements for reduce and normalize cholesterol. Lovachole, together with a healthy and correct diet, contributes to the normalization of blood cholesterol levels. This food supplement against hypercholesterolemia allows you to:

  • Help reduce bad cholesterol in the blood in a natural way
  • Provide the our body a supply of Omega 3
  • To help reduce other risk factors, such as high levels of triglycerides and homocysteine

This supplement has no side effects typical of synthetic statins.

Lastly we would like to mention Regolacolest, another excellent product for regulating and normalizing blood cholesterol levels. This supplement, in addition to fermented red rice and obviously monacolin K, also contains olive tree extract, extremely useful for the physiological metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, promoting normal blood circulation and the regularity of blood pressure.