How Does Red Yeast Rice Work in the Body?
Eat Up Red yeast rice (also called Chinese red yeast rice) has to be eaten to impart its cholesterol-lowering benefits. According to Dr. David Herber on Discovery Health, red yeast rice is often simply sprinkled on top of foods like tofu stir-fry, fish sauce or Peking duck. Dr. Herber also states that swallowing 2.4g capsules will also give the same benefit (when combined with quitting smoking and eating more fiber). Once in the Body Digestion breaks down the red yeast rice, releasing a chemical known as lovastatin, which is in a family of cholesterol-lowering chemicals called monocolins. Lovastatin is also the main ingredient in such prescription high-cholesterol drugs such as Mevacor. Combined with digestive juices, lovastatin is broken down into beta hydroxy acid. Breaking the Chain Beta hydroxyl acid interferes with the body’s ability to make the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (known as HMG-CoA reductase). Stopping HMG-CoA is important, because the enzyme is
