Red yeast rice is produced by cultivating the monascus purpureos on rice. The monascus purporeous is a type of yeast strain. The rice will be soaked in water. After that, the rice will be inoculated by mixing the rice with either powdered red yeast rice or the m. purporeos spores. The rice will have to be inoculated for three to six days. It will be stored in a room-temperature environment until it is ready to use.
Red yeast rice can be used in a variety of food products including red rice vinegar and tofu. It can also be used in Chinese desserts that require food coloring. Red yeast rice is known for adding a pleasant taste to dishes. There are also red yeast rice supplements available.
Red yeast rice originated in Asia and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. The earliest use of red yeast rice dates back to 800 A.D. China produces more red yeast rice than any other part of the world. In the 1970s, researchers in Japan and the United States began researching the health effects of red yeast rice. They found that it can benefit health in a number of ways.
1. Lowers Cholesterol
One of the main reasons that people take red yeast rice is because it can help lower cholesterol. It has monaculin k, which is the same substance that is found in cholesterol-lowering medications. There was a study done in 2015 compared people who were given a red yeast rice supplement to people who took a placebo. The study lasted for four weeks.
The results of the study showed that the supplement helped reduce cholesterol more than the placebo. It also showed that the supplement was also just as effective as statins, which are one of the most popular cholesterol-lowering medications. In fact, many people refer to red yeast rice as a natural statin.
This supplement has not only been shown to help lower total cholesterol and bad cholesterol, but it may also help raise good cholesterol. Raising your good cholesterol may help lower your chances of developing heart disease. The good cholesterol can help remove plaque from your arteries.
Additionally, it can raise triglycerides. The triglycerides are the amount of fat that is in the blood. Having high triglycerides is just as dangerous as having high cholesterol. If your triglyceride levels are elevated, then you will be more likely to develop heart disease.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]2. Improves Heart Function
It is estimated that heart disease is responsible for 25 percent of the deaths in the United States. You may be able to lower your risk of developing heart disease by taking red yeast rice. There was a study done that involved 5,000 people who had suffered a heart attack. The subjects were given red yeast rice. The results of the study showed that the subjects were able to cut their risk of a future heart attack in a half.
This supplement works by lowering blood vessel stiffness. It can also improve blood vessel flexibility.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]3. Prevents Cancer
Cancer is a condition that will affect around 33 percent of women and 50 percent of men at some point. It is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. Researchers have found that red yeast rice can potentially reduce the risk of cancer. It may inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in the colon.
There has also been evidence to suggest that that this supplement can encourage prostate cancer cells to die. Prostate cancer has a tendency to develop slowly. Men who take this supplement may be able to prevent the cancer from getting worse.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]4. Soothes Inflammation
Inflammation is the way that the body responds to an infection or injury. The body would not be able to heal properly if there was no inflammation. However, widespread and chronic inflammation can lead to a number of health problems. Studies have shown that this supplement can help lower inflammatory markers in the body. It can also reduce kidney stress.
This supplement can also lower C-reactive protein levels in the body. C-reactive protein is a substance that is produced by the liver in response to inflammation. It is considered a marker for disease.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]5. Improves Bone Density
The bone density is the amount of bone tissue that is in the bone. Your bone density decreases as you get older, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis. This condition causes the bones to become brittle. People who have osteoporosis are more likely to have bone fractures. Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease.
Red yeast rice can help improve your bone density. It can also help stimulate new bone formation. Therefore, you may be able to reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis by adding red yeast rice to your regimen.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]6. Prevents Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a condition where a person suffers from a cluster of health problems that increase the risk of heart disease. This includes things such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol. Red yeast rice can help treat and prevent metabolic syndrome. It can help prevent or manage metabolic syndrome by helping you keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels under control.
This supplement has been shown to reduce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there are too many harmful free radicals in the body. Oxidative stress can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]7. Obesity
Obesity rates have skyrocketed in the past few years. Being obese can put one at risk for developing heart disease. It can also shorten a person’s lifespan. You can prevent or treat obesity by taking red yeast rice. It has been shown to help regulate leptin production.
Leptin is a hormone that helps stimulate satiety and keep you feeling full. Ghrelin has the opposite effect. It stimulates hunger. Because this supplement can help you control your appetite, it may help you lose weight. Additionally, studies have shown that red yeast rice can counteract the effects of a high-fat diet.