Red Yeast Rice: A Safe Therapy to Lower Cholesterol?

Dr. Kang Health Professional Cardiologist Steven Kang, MD, is a general cardiologist and cardiac... Send Message Subscribe: Dr. Kang

Monday, September 15, 2008
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Tea is not the only ancient remedy for lowering cholesterol that has gained popularity over the past years. Red yeast rice is a food that has been a part of Asian culture for thousands of years. Red yeast rice is simply rice that has been allowed to ferment in the red yeast Monascus purpureus. Thi...

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red yeeast rice
Judy
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 03:50 PM

I have been taking this for about 5 month. My cholestrol went from 243 to 176.

Red Yeast Rice
Joan
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 05:56 PM

My total Cholesterol went down somewhat, but my HDL is 88, which is super and my doctor was satisfied with this number; my LDL is under 100 and my triglycerides are 156. I have been on Red Yeast Rice for abt. a year. No need to take statins and side affects.

re: Red Yeast Rice
VirginiaW
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 06:27 PM

I have tried Red Yeast Rice, but have chronic gastritis and it upset my stomach. I was on Vytorin which worked, but after all the bad publicity I stopped it. Now I have just had my cholesterol checked and my doctor reported that it's high at 212 and recommended I take Zocor. I haven't tried it yet, but feel very uncomfortable about it because when my stomach becomes upset it takes forever for it to calm down. Any suggestions.

re: Red Yeast Rice
allieoop
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 03:10 PM

Joan and Judy: Where do you buy your RYR capsules and what is the Brand name?

Allie

red yeast rice
Anonymous
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 09:47 PM

Very interesting .... the good doctor states RYR has been used successfully to lower cholesterol for "thousands of years" but yet sides with the FDA in not recommending it.

Give some thought as to whom is funding his report.

re: red yeast rice
meri
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 08:15 PM

Please don't tell me you totally trust the FDA.. They always seem to have their own agenda, I am proof, I decided I didnt want to be on statins for the rest of my life, and stopped taking my prescription and started taking RYR with CoQ10 because I heard it helps with its absorbtion.. My cholesterol went from 230 to within normal limits. It does work!

Read yeast rice
Vivek Atre
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 11:39 PM

Dear Dr. Kang,

One has to appreciates they way you all are giving the knowledgeble information, I personally desire to receive all these articles on the contiual basis. In fact wuuld like to be a associate in India to co-operate the activity.

Best Regards

Vivek Atre

Cell No. +91 98926 83336

Email:vivekatre@gmail.com

re: Read yeast rice
Allison Bush
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 10:41 AM

Hi Vivek,

To receive Dr. Kang's posts on a regular basis, please register here.

thanks!

Alli

Red Yeast Rice for Lowering Cholesterol
Robbia
Monday, September 22, 2008 at 03:17 PM

I tried red yeast rice capsules and they upset my stomach, so I discontinued them.

red yeast rice
Peggy Bentley
Friday, September 26, 2008 at 08:38 AM

My husband's cholesterol dropped about 60 points in a 6 week period while taking red yeast. The same is true of 2 of my sisters, a friend, and another family member who took it, there cholesterol dropped about 50 points. To say that it does not lower your cholesterol that much, I think, is not a true statement. I realize that people are different and will respond differently, but these results were amazing! I think that it's use is not promoted because it's not a prescription and because of it's low cost, money is not going to be made from this by big drug companies!

Red Yeast Rice Pills can be bought at health food stores!
Troy Johnston
Friday, March 27, 2009 at 09:57 AM

I had Dr. Kang as a Cardiologists and i went to see him for heart palpatations, but the real reason i was having increased heart palpatations was due to the prescription drug "Lipitor"...for cholesterol!....i have since been off lipitor for two months now and my palpataions have almost completely stopped now!...i have gone to the health food store and purchased Red Yeast Rice pills and hopefully my cholesterol has went down now???...maybe i will go back to see Dr. Kang and find out?...but i know one thing and that is some doctor's are fast to prescribe meds and never tell you the risks compared to the benefits....Dr. Folsom in Castro Valley is the one who subcribed me into taking lipitor and i was complaining about my heart racing for years and asked if it was from the lipitor and i was always told no!...so if anybody is having these palpatations and their taking lipitor stop and see another doctor or take supplements from the health food store and see if that helps instead.