How does red rice work in the body
Red fermented rice is the rice fermented with a mushroom called Monascus purpureus. The fermentation process creates a characteristic red color and gives birth to a substance called monacolin K. This is a compound with a structure similar to lovastatin, a drug used to reduce cholesterol.
Many studies show that if red rice products have enough monacolin K, it can help reduce bad LDL cholesterol by 15% - 34%. This effect is equivalent to a mild dose of statin in people with moderately high cholesterol.
However, not all red rice is the same. Some products on the market are almost without monacolin K or contain very little, causing unclear blood fat reduction effects.
Nutritionist Jonathan Purtell at Lenox Hill Hospital New York emphasizes that not everyone who uses red rice has good results, which depends a lot on the quality of the product.
Side effects that cannot be ignored
Although red rice is of natural origin, it is not completely harmless. Some users experience side effects such as diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, headaches and rashes.
In addition, many products were found to contain citrinin, a poison that can harm the kidneys. There are cases where lovastatin is illegally added to the product to increase effectiveness.
expert Sarah Anzlovar in Boston said that if you are taking prescription anti-venom drugs, you should not drink more red rice because it can cause excessive cholesterol reduction and affect the liver and kidneys.
Pregnant women, mothers and people with kidney disease are also advised not to use this supplement.
In short, red rice may be a supportive choice for people with mild to moderate cholesterol increase but cannot completely replace anti-dypetics. If you want to use it, you should choose a product that has been independently tested and consult a doctor before starting.
