Getting high cholesterol under control is one thing, but keeping it under control is a whole different matter. If you’re interested in the relationship between red rice and cholesterol and its impact on health, here’s a detailed overview of how to choose red rice capsules to effectively lower cholesterol, keep it under control, and ensure long-term safe consumption.
What is fermented red rice?
Chinese fermented or red rice extract is often confused with the red rice sold in stores. These are completely different products, and the red rice sold in stores does not have a cholesterol-lowering effect.
Cholesterol lowering red rice is made by fermenting white rice. The fermentation process gives the rice its red color and the active ingredient, monacolin K, which is effective in lowering cholesterol.
Why choose red rice capsules?
Today, red rice extract-containing supplements are commonly used to lower total and LDL cholesterol levels and protect the cardiovascular system. The effectiveness of fermented red rice supplements is the most well-established in clinical studies among natural products. Long-term use of a properly chosen red rice supplement is safe for your health.
Which red rice supplement to choose?
Various red rice supplements are available on pharmacy shelves – red rice capsules and red rice tablets. To get the maximum benefit from lowering cholesterol levels, always check the ingredients on the back of the product when choosing the right one. Each manufacturer has their own red rice formula.
When choosing a red rice supplement, follow these three simple recommendations:
- The monacolin K content is at the maximum allowable dose, i.e., 2.99 mg
- The red rice is free of citrinin
- The red rice is combined with antioxidants.
Why should you monitor the monacolin K content?
Monacolin K is a natural statin that effectively lowers cholesterol. Monacolin K is known as an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. HMG-CoA reductase is an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis in the liver, and blocking this enzyme helps reduce cholesterol levels in the body.
In Estonia, since June 21, 2022, the maximum safe daily dose of monacolin K is 2.99 mg. Therefore, when choosing a red rice extract supplement, it is important to ensure it contains the maximum allowable dose of monacolin K.
Make sure the red rice extract is standardized. This ensures that the red rice extract meets a specific standard and guarantees controlled monacolin K content in each tablet.
Why choose red rice without citrinin?
Citrinins are toxins produced by several fungi as a result of the fermentation process. While citrinin-producing fungi may contaminate other foods, this “contamination” is a normal part of red rice production.
Prefer a supplement that does not contain citrinin, which many red rice capsules or tablets may have. It is important to carefully read the product ingredients. Only consuming red rice capsules with a citrinin-free composition is a safe and secure choice for long-term use, as it does not cause side effects.
Why are antioxidants necessary?
The ratio of HDL and LDL cholesterol is much more important than the total cholesterol level. That’s why cardiologists recommend consuming antioxidants for heart health in addition to red rice capsules. Antioxidants raise HDL cholesterol and effectively lower LDL cholesterol. Additionally, antioxidants prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, thus preventing it from penetrating blood vessel walls and causing further harmful effects.
If blood vessels are healthy and intact, there is no increase in blood pressure, calcification, or thrombosis. Therefore, prefer red rice capsules or tablets that, in addition to red rice, contain antioxidants from the Mediterranean diet to keep blood vessels healthy and smooth.
It is worth knowing that the adequate amount of antioxidants daily is 200 grams of fruit and 200 grams of vegetables. If your daily diet does not contain enough antioxidants, prefer red rice capsules that already contain them.
Is it necessary to take Q10 with red rice capsules?
Coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone, is an antioxidant needed by the body to produce energy and maintain normal heart and muscle function. The body produces it naturally, but its synthesis starts to decrease after the age of 30.
Some studies have shown that cholesterol-lowering supplements may also reduce the Q10 level in the body. The same metabolic pathway used by cholesterol-lowering supplements to reduce cholesterol production also decreases Q10 synthesis.
It is advisable to take Q10 capsules or tablets if your cholesterol-lowering supplement causes muscle pain. It is worth knowing that Q10’s beneficial effect in relieving muscle pain occurs only when consuming 100 mg of Q10. Therefore, cholesterol-lowering supplements with less than 100 mg of Q10 added will not have a positive effect on preventing or alleviating muscle pain.
Why should you add Omega-3 fatty acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that the body does not produce and can only be obtained from food or supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids consist of two important acids: EPA and DHA.
It has been proven that regular consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids is beneficial for the functioning of heart cell membranes and blood vessels. Additionally, Omega-3 fatty acids lower triglyceride (blood fat) levels in the body and help maintain a normal HDL to LDL cholesterol ratio.
It is worth knowing that to achieve beneficial effects, you need to consume at least 250 mg of EPA and DHA daily. If your red rice capsules do not yet contain enough Omega-3 fatty acids, cardiologists recommend taking them regularly as a supplement.
Why prefer EPA fatty acids?
When choosing the best cholesterol-lowering supplement, i.e., red rice capsules, it is worth preferring a product that contains EPA fatty acids beneficial to cardiovascular health. This provides more comprehensive support for the heart and blood vessels.
EPA fatty acids help:
- effectively maintain normal cholesterol levels by reducing triglycerides and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels
- increase HDL (good cholesterol) levels
- have anti-inflammatory effects, effectively reducing the risk of atherosclerosis with regular use
- slightly thin the blood, thus reducing the risk of thrombosis
- improve blood flow and help lower high blood pressure.
Can I take red rice capsules if I am 70 years old?
Cholesterol levels in the blood should meet the normal values at any age. Therefore, regular cholesterol monitoring is important. This is especially crucial in older age when a person may already have several accompanying diseases.
Estonian cardiologists find no substantive argument why people over 70 should not use red rice capsules or red rice tablets. If your cholesterol level is elevated, follow your doctor’s recommendations and take cholesterol-lowering medications, including red rice supplements, regularly.
What do I need to know before taking red rice capsules?
Although long-term use of red rice supplements is safe, it is not recommended in certain cases. Red rice capsules or tablets should not be consumed if:
- you are under 18 years old
- you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- you are already taking cholesterol-lowering medications
- you have liver or kidney disease
Choose red rice supplements wisely and stay healthy!
