Red Yeast Rice Ext (Water Soluble)

Red Yeast Rice (monascus purpureus Went) is made, quite simply, by fermenting red yeast on rice. A special process is used to isolate a higher concentration of the natural ingredient mevinolin. This substance is similar to the "statin" drugs, such as Zocor, Pravachol, and Lipitor, that doctors prescribe for high cholesterol. An extract of mevinolin, however, can be purchased without a prescription as an over-the-counter dietary supplement. Everyone's body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to function properly. The substance is found in cell membranes and helps the body make use of hormones. But if too much cholesterol gets into the system, it accumulates as fatty deposits in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease. The liver produces about 80 percent of the cholesterol we need, with the other 20 percent coming from food sources. Red Yeast Rice (and "statin" drugs) block the action of an enzyme in the liver that triggers cholesterol production. It is also speculated that the unsaturated fatty acids in Red Yeast Rice could contribute to its beneficial effects.