subject: All You Need to Know About Red Yeast Rice and Cholesterol [print this page] Many people want to know more about red yeast rice and cholesterol? Well firstly red rice, is rice fermented by Monascus purpureus, which is red yeast. People in China have used it for hundreds of years to color food and to preserve it. The coloring in Peking duck comes from this. The yeast is also used in spices and in rice wine. The latest buzz is all about red yeast rice and cholesterol lowering properties of this product.In the Asian communities in USA and in China and Japan, this rice continues to be part of their staple diet. On average, each of these people consumes anything from fourteen to fifty five grams of this rice on a daily basis.For at least the last ten centuries, this yeast has been employed by the Chinese nation as a form of medicine. It has been credited with reducing symptoms of diarrhea and indigestion and for boosting circulation.In more recent times, the USA and China have collaborated in developing a product that will reduce triglycerides and cholesterol.Tests have revealed that this food is safe for all to use, however in America it is now against the law to sell this rice with more than traces of cholesterol lowering agents in it. They have removed the active content from red rice yeast.There are a few reasons that the FDA has banned the sale of yeast rice that contains significantly more than traces of cholesterol reducing agents. Statin drugs have been known to cause kidney and muscular injury and patients who take this drug and take the rice containing more than trace cholesterol reducing agents, could further affect their kidneys and muscles. The other big reason is that the FDA gives due consideration to the cholesterol-reducing agent in the rice new. Any new substance that claims to do anything medicinal is not permitted to be sold as a food.There are 3 main red yeast rice preparations of and they are: Xuezhikang, Cholestin or Hpocol and Zhitai.By mixing various strains of Monascus on whole grain rice, you will end up with Zhitai. Fermenting certain strains of Monascus purpureus using a process that produces monacolin K. Monacolin K is considered to be a powerful cholesterol reducing agent.Mix alcohol, rice and the red yeast and the result will be Xuezhikang, this is after it has been processed in order to destroy the majority of rice gluten. This is 40% more powerful as a cholesterol-lowering agent than Hypocol or Cholestin.Next time someone asks you the question What is yeast rice? You will know to tell them it is the best way to keep a healthy heart and about the benefits of yeast rice and cholesterol control.
All You Need to Know About Red Yeast Rice and Cholesterol
