With good health comes wealth. Taking care of your body is actually simple when you think about it. All you have to do is make sure that you are exercising regularly, eating right and avoiding anything that will potentially be harmful to your body. But sometimes, this is not enough. Even if you religiously workout and carefully monitor your diet, you may need some supplement for lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels. The Chinese is quite famous for their natural supplements and among their many herbal remedies; the red yeast rice supplement is the most popular for lowering triglycerides.

What is Red Yeast Rice Supplement?

 

The red yeast rice is actually the result of fermenting the yeast (Monascus purpureus) over rice. The Chinese have used it as a traditional medicine to treat stomach aches and improve blood circulation. Marketed today as a triglyceride-lowering dietary aid, the red yeast rice supplement is also known as hong qu, red rice, Red koji, Xue Zhi Kang, Zhi Tai, Monascus and Cholestin. People with high levels of triglycerides can benefit immensely from this supplement. In addition to being effective for lowering triglycerides, you can also enjoy the convenience of having to take it in tablet or capsule form.

FDA Approval

Evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration has yet to be done on red yeast rice supplements. The effectivity and safety of these supplements for lowering triglycerides have not been formally established. Manufacturers of the supplements are also not being regulated yet and consumers should be careful when purchasing these red yeast rice supplements for lowering triglycerides. There is actually some evidence of contamination by toxic substances. Consumers are advised to buy their supplements from reliable manufacturers.

Before taking red yeast rice supplements for lowering triglycerides, you should make it a point to discuss your intentions with your healthcare provider. Individuals with a history of liver disease are not advised to take this supplement as they can aggravate their medical condition. These supplements are also not recommended for people with asthma, kidney disease and serious infection. Pregnant or lactating women are also not good candidates as well as individuals who recently had surgery.Taking certain medications can also result to adverse side effects. These include cyclosporine, antibiotics, niacin, ketoconazole and HIV medications.

In any case, you should stop taking red yeast rice supplements if you observe the following:

  • Muscle weakness
  • Fever
  • Muscle pain
  • Dark colored urine

Less serious side effects include bloating, heartburn, dizziness, upset stomach and mild headache.

If you are not at risk for the possible side effects of taking red yeast rice supplements for lowering triglycerides, it would be wise to follow the directions indicated on the package. You should also avoid drinking any alcoholic beverages when taking these supplements. Grapefruit juice and fresh grapefruit should also be avoided. You should make sure that you store these supplements in a sealed container, away from heat, light and moisture.

As one of the secrets of the Chinese, the red yeast rice supplement can provide you with a natural way of lowering triglycerides. You just need to determine if you are a good candidate for these supplements to prevent serious medical complication.