The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
KAYJAY (TEXAS) on 01/13/2024:
Hi,
So three months ago, I found out I have a high total cholesterol of 229. My LDL was 165. I am 51 and I am active only as a mom and one who does pilates four days a week. I call myself a vegan slash pescatarian slash vegetarian low on the dairy though slash turkey or chicken maybe once every two week. Put it like this people were shocked when i told them i had high cholesterol. Anywho my nurse practitioner decided to have me tested for this genetic disorder. My brother actually has the genetic disorder that makes his cholesterol high so he's on statins. Well i refuse to get on that medication because i understand the side effects are not good but to each his own and no judgment here. Not at all. My nurse practitioner put me on fish oil and red rice yeast to treat my high cholesterol but check this out before being put on red rice yeast my a1c was good. It was 5.4, but after three months on red rice yeast my a1c which has never been high shot up three points 5.7. I am wondering if this red rice yeast caused my a1c to rise. I heard prescription statins do the same thing. I meet with my practitioner this week and will ask her if this is a side effect of red rice yeast. If it is i want to get off. I have already started adding more carido to my exercise routine and cut those carbs out i know are not good for me but they taste so good even if theyre organic and used with good ingredients. Okay so what are your thoughts on red rice yeast and the possibility they elevate your a1c? I have a gut feeling it has increased my a1c. Also, my three month check up my total cholesterol went down from 229 to 209. My LDL went down from 165 to 140. So it appears it is working but I also believe changing my diet and doing intermittent fasting 16:8 has helped too. I appreciate any comments and i look forward to reading them. Bye
Have always had good numbers on almost all health related things. Played 4 sports and when I couldn't anymore due to an injury, I took up walking some years ago. Now at 69, still walking 4-5 miles every day, I find myself with high cholesterol and triglycerides. Most of that is genetic, but I didn't expect it as I thought I could get around it by walking.
Tried red yeast rice about 2 weeks ago and developed extreme pain in my left thigh. Of course I have stopped taking it, but in the meantime I am almost unable to sleep because of the pain, going on about 5 days now.
Once I get moving the pain fades into the background and it seems to occur when I am laying down. I guess I'll go back to ACV which fixed my acid reflux a few years ago. Does anyone have an antidote to Red Yeast Rice?
Red yeast rice stained the bottoms of my feet within 3 days of taking to reduce cholesterol. Luckily I stopped and the stains went away within a week and a half. No thanks.
All of my adult life I have always had high cholesterol. I've been eating a vegan diet for many years and didn't understand why my cholesterol was so high. I found something online where it said that coffee raises cholesterol. I love coffee and was a regular at the local coffee shop. In the last six months I also started drinking it at home.
When my cholesterol was checked 08/26/2015 it was higher than it's ever been. My total cholesterol was 353 LDL 263 Triglycerides 163. This report did not even show my HDL.
The first month I didn't do anything and continued drinking coffee.
The second month I started taking Red Yeast Rice Complex that also had CoQ10, Policosanol, Pantethine and Plant Sterols. I took 600 mg twice a day. My cholesterol was checked again on 10/24/2015. My total cholesterol was 276 HDL 73 LDL 183 and Triglycerides 87.
The third month I quit drinking coffee and continued taking this dosage for about another two weeks and then took 600 mg once a day until the bottle was gone.The beginning of the third month I also started a Terrain Modification program where I am only drinking nutrient dense liquids through out the day and eating one meal per day that is mostly raw. I just had my cholesterol checked again on 12/04/2015 and the total cholesterol was 239 HDL 87 Triglycerides 128 and LDL was 126.
My cholesterol ratio went from 6.2 down to 2.7 in just a little over three months.
RED YEAST RICE, according to research findings from Dr. Mercola (internet), RYRice is a STATIN drug. We were very surprised and were using as this information was not divulged. It is Lovastatin (Mevacor and Altocor). So if you believe you are taking a natural supplement - Surprise! Provided your tests after statin drugs were good, you are better off to NOT take anything for cholesterol, eat heallthy and take lots of vitamins. Statins are a danger to the liver, as we all know. Same goes for Red Yeast Rice. Manufacturers are very clever hiding the statin facts. Also if the RYR contains citrinin, it is dangerous. Should be removed. Again that information not found on most supplements on the market. Good cholesterol is one of our best friends and is vital componet of every cell membrane. Eat healthy to maintain good cholesterol levels. Love this site - very beneficial. I go no where else to get natural remedies. Wonderful site!
I also experienced leg cramps while taking red yeast rice. However, I found that switching to taking it in the a.m. and not the afternoon or p.m. made a huge difference. I don't even get cramps every day now.
I am pro Red Yeast because after taking it about a year, my total numbers dropped 50 points! From 289 to 233 and my ratios all improved (they were good before, now even better). Not much change in diet other than that. I take just ONE 600 mg capsule per day.
Response to Patricia. Yes the red yeast rice works better than the statin drugs and it is all natural. Much better for the body. But be sure you take at least 200 mg. of COQ10 with it because red yeast rice takes COQ10 out of your body. Besides COQ10 protects the heart. My husband has been doing this for years and his doctor can't believe how good his cholesterol levels always are.
High Cholesterol: My bad cholesterol was over 200. After taking one 1200 mg. of red yeast rice tablet in the morning and one in the evening for 3 months, it dropped to 170 and my good cholesterol rose. I saw a report on this on the national news health watch segment. They reported that is does as well or better than statin drugs.
I decided to try red rice yeast after taking statins for several years for high cholesterol. I changed my lifestyle; eating oats for breakfast every day and walking at least 30 minutes per day. Then I substituted red rice yeast instead of the statins. Two months after stopping the statins and taking red rice yeast, my cholesterol is down to 5.5. With the guidance of my medical herbalist, I am reducing the red rice yeast gradually, and expect not to need it at all eventually.
My cholesterol has always been high around 276 and my doctor did not believe at that time to treat it, I am in good shape, but when I turned 64, he put me on simvastatin 20 MG. My legs started to cramp up immediately, so I stopped and told him i would research other ways.I saw some data on Red Yeast Rice and took it for 3 months and had my blood tested, my cholesterol droped 40 points my TG went down, he said keep doing what you are doing. I also take 1000 MG of Flax seed. The Red Yeast Rice I cut back to 600MG every other day. I will get my blood tested next week and see what is going on. Test Kidney and Liver. I cut back because i had some very minor stomach reaction. I found that you should check all the ingredients in Red Yeast Rice, you want no other items in it. I purchase it from a Health Store where i can talk to the owner who is an Herbalist. By my dropping the dosage it may not be that effective. I will wait for my tests and then I will react. I have no intention on trying to reduce cholesterol to below 200, I think you can put to much of anything into your body. I will post after my blood tests. Thanks
Brendan (Santa Barbara, California) on 11/19/2007:
My osteopath prescribed red yeast rice for elevated triglycerides/cholesterol. Despite looking fit my triglycerides were so high that I was borderline diabetic. I took these daily and now my triglycerides are normal and my cholesterol is below 200 (very important as my Father died in his 40s from heart disease). Red Yeast rice is a statin and is so effective that a prominent drug company tried to get it taken off shelves as they argued it was infringing on their patent. Red yeast rice is available at most health food stores and is best taken with coenzyme q10.
I have been on four different cholesterol meds and all have affected my legs. I even tried the Red yeast Rice and had the same results. Am now trying one more new prescription. Red yeast rice was not effective Wife having problems now and is try a med plus is going to try the vinegar and water.
The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
KAYJAY (TEXAS) on 01/13/2024:
Hi,
So three months ago, I found out I have a high total cholesterol of 229. My LDL was 165. I am 51 and I am active only as a mom and one who does pilates four days a week. I call myself a vegan slash pescatarian slash vegetarian low on the dairy though slash turkey or chicken maybe once every two week. Put it like this people were shocked when i told them i had high cholesterol. Anywho my nurse practitioner decided to have me tested for this genetic disorder. My brother actually has the genetic disorder that makes his cholesterol high so he's on statins. Well i refuse to get on that medication because i understand the side effects are not good but to each his own and no judgment here. Not at all. My nurse practitioner put me on fish oil and red rice yeast to treat my high cholesterol but check this out before being put on red rice yeast my a1c was good. It was 5.4, but after three months on red rice yeast my a1c which has never been high shot up three points 5.7. I am wondering if this red rice yeast caused my a1c to rise. I heard prescription statins do the same thing. I meet with my practitioner this week and will ask her if this is a side effect of red rice yeast. If it is i want to get off. I have already started adding more carido to my exercise routine and cut those carbs out i know are not good for me but they taste so good even if theyre organic and used with good ingredients. Okay so what are your thoughts on red rice yeast and the possibility they elevate your a1c? I have a gut feeling it has increased my a1c. Also, my three month check up my total cholesterol went down from 229 to 209. My LDL went down from 165 to 140. So it appears it is working but I also believe changing my diet and doing intermittent fasting 16:8 has helped too. I appreciate any comments and i look forward to reading them. Bye
Have always had good numbers on almost all health related things. Played 4 sports and when I couldn't anymore due to an injury, I took up walking some years ago. Now at 69, still walking 4-5 miles every day, I find myself with high cholesterol and triglycerides. Most of that is genetic, but I didn't expect it as I thought I could get around it by walking.
Tried red yeast rice about 2 weeks ago and developed extreme pain in my left thigh. Of course I have stopped taking it, but in the meantime I am almost unable to sleep because of the pain, going on about 5 days now.
Once I get moving the pain fades into the background and it seems to occur when I am laying down. I guess I'll go back to ACV which fixed my acid reflux a few years ago. Does anyone have an antidote to Red Yeast Rice?
Red yeast rice stained the bottoms of my feet within 3 days of taking to reduce cholesterol. Luckily I stopped and the stains went away within a week and a half. No thanks.
All of my adult life I have always had high cholesterol. I've been eating a vegan diet for many years and didn't understand why my cholesterol was so high. I found something online where it said that coffee raises cholesterol. I love coffee and was a regular at the local coffee shop. In the last six months I also started drinking it at home.
When my cholesterol was checked 08/26/2015 it was higher than it's ever been. My total cholesterol was 353 LDL 263 Triglycerides 163. This report did not even show my HDL.
The first month I didn't do anything and continued drinking coffee.
The second month I started taking Red Yeast Rice Complex that also had CoQ10, Policosanol, Pantethine and Plant Sterols. I took 600 mg twice a day. My cholesterol was checked again on 10/24/2015. My total cholesterol was 276 HDL 73 LDL 183 and Triglycerides 87.
The third month I quit drinking coffee and continued taking this dosage for about another two weeks and then took 600 mg once a day until the bottle was gone.The beginning of the third month I also started a Terrain Modification program where I am only drinking nutrient dense liquids through out the day and eating one meal per day that is mostly raw. I just had my cholesterol checked again on 12/04/2015 and the total cholesterol was 239 HDL 87 Triglycerides 128 and LDL was 126.
My cholesterol ratio went from 6.2 down to 2.7 in just a little over three months.
RED YEAST RICE, according to research findings from Dr. Mercola (internet), RYRice is a STATIN drug. We were very surprised and were using as this information was not divulged. It is Lovastatin (Mevacor and Altocor). So if you believe you are taking a natural supplement - Surprise! Provided your tests after statin drugs were good, you are better off to NOT take anything for cholesterol, eat heallthy and take lots of vitamins. Statins are a danger to the liver, as we all know. Same goes for Red Yeast Rice. Manufacturers are very clever hiding the statin facts. Also if the RYR contains citrinin, it is dangerous. Should be removed. Again that information not found on most supplements on the market. Good cholesterol is one of our best friends and is vital componet of every cell membrane. Eat healthy to maintain good cholesterol levels. Love this site - very beneficial. I go no where else to get natural remedies. Wonderful site!
I also experienced leg cramps while taking red yeast rice. However, I found that switching to taking it in the a.m. and not the afternoon or p.m. made a huge difference. I don't even get cramps every day now.
I am pro Red Yeast because after taking it about a year, my total numbers dropped 50 points! From 289 to 233 and my ratios all improved (they were good before, now even better). Not much change in diet other than that. I take just ONE 600 mg capsule per day.
Response to Patricia. Yes the red yeast rice works better than the statin drugs and it is all natural. Much better for the body. But be sure you take at least 200 mg. of COQ10 with it because red yeast rice takes COQ10 out of your body. Besides COQ10 protects the heart. My husband has been doing this for years and his doctor can't believe how good his cholesterol levels always are.
High Cholesterol: My bad cholesterol was over 200. After taking one 1200 mg. of red yeast rice tablet in the morning and one in the evening for 3 months, it dropped to 170 and my good cholesterol rose. I saw a report on this on the national news health watch segment. They reported that is does as well or better than statin drugs.
I decided to try red rice yeast after taking statins for several years for high cholesterol. I changed my lifestyle; eating oats for breakfast every day and walking at least 30 minutes per day. Then I substituted red rice yeast instead of the statins. Two months after stopping the statins and taking red rice yeast, my cholesterol is down to 5.5. With the guidance of my medical herbalist, I am reducing the red rice yeast gradually, and expect not to need it at all eventually.
My cholesterol has always been high around 276 and my doctor did not believe at that time to treat it, I am in good shape, but when I turned 64, he put me on simvastatin 20 MG. My legs started to cramp up immediately, so I stopped and told him i would research other ways.I saw some data on Red Yeast Rice and took it for 3 months and had my blood tested, my cholesterol droped 40 points my TG went down, he said keep doing what you are doing. I also take 1000 MG of Flax seed. The Red Yeast Rice I cut back to 600MG every other day. I will get my blood tested next week and see what is going on. Test Kidney and Liver. I cut back because i had some very minor stomach reaction. I found that you should check all the ingredients in Red Yeast Rice, you want no other items in it. I purchase it from a Health Store where i can talk to the owner who is an Herbalist. By my dropping the dosage it may not be that effective. I will wait for my tests and then I will react. I have no intention on trying to reduce cholesterol to below 200, I think you can put to much of anything into your body. I will post after my blood tests. Thanks
Brendan (Santa Barbara, California) on 11/19/2007:
My osteopath prescribed red yeast rice for elevated triglycerides/cholesterol. Despite looking fit my triglycerides were so high that I was borderline diabetic. I took these daily and now my triglycerides are normal and my cholesterol is below 200 (very important as my Father died in his 40s from heart disease). Red Yeast rice is a statin and is so effective that a prominent drug company tried to get it taken off shelves as they argued it was infringing on their patent. Red yeast rice is available at most health food stores and is best taken with coenzyme q10.
I have been on four different cholesterol meds and all have affected my legs. I even tried the Red yeast Rice and had the same results. Am now trying one more new prescription. Red yeast rice was not effective Wife having problems now and is try a med plus is going to try the vinegar and water.
So three months ago, I found out I have a high total cholesterol of 229. My LDL was 165. I am 51 and I am active only as a mom and one who does pilates four days a week. I call myself a vegan slash pescatarian slash vegetarian low on the dairy though slash turkey or chicken maybe once every two week. Put it like this people were shocked when i told them i had high cholesterol. Anywho my nurse practitioner decided to have me tested for this genetic disorder. My brother actually has the genetic disorder that makes his cholesterol high so he's on statins. Well i refuse to get on that medication because i understand the side effects are not good but to each his own and no judgment here. Not at all. My nurse practitioner put me on fish oil and red rice yeast to treat my high cholesterol but check this out before being put on red rice yeast my a1c was good. It was 5.4, but after three months on red rice yeast my a1c which has never been high shot up three points 5.7. I am wondering if this red rice yeast caused my a1c to rise. I heard prescription statins do the same thing. I meet with my practitioner this week and will ask her if this is a side effect of red rice yeast. If it is i want to get off. I have already started adding more carido to my exercise routine and cut those carbs out i know are not good for me but they taste so good even if theyre organic and used with good ingredients. Okay so what are your thoughts on red rice yeast and the possibility they elevate your a1c? I have a gut feeling it has increased my a1c. Also, my three month check up my total cholesterol went down from 229 to 209. My LDL went down from 165 to 140. So it appears it is working but I also believe changing my diet and doing intermittent fasting 16:8 has helped too. I appreciate any comments and i look forward to reading them. Bye
Have always had good numbers on almost all health related things. Played 4 sports and when I couldn't anymore due to an injury, I took up walking some years ago. Now at 69, still walking 4-5 miles every day, I find myself with high cholesterol and triglycerides. Most of that is genetic, but I didn't expect it as I thought I could get around it by walking.
Tried red yeast rice about 2 weeks ago and developed extreme pain in my left thigh. Of course I have stopped taking it, but in the meantime I am almost unable to sleep because of the pain, going on about 5 days now.
Once I get moving the pain fades into the background and it seems to occur when I am laying down. I guess I'll go back to ACV which fixed my acid reflux a few years ago. Does anyone have an antidote to Red Yeast Rice?
Red yeast rice stained the bottoms of my feet within 3 days of taking to reduce cholesterol. Luckily I stopped and the stains went away within a week and a half. No thanks.
All of my adult life I have always had high cholesterol. I've been eating a vegan diet for many years and didn't understand why my cholesterol was so high. I found something online where it said that coffee raises cholesterol. I love coffee and was a regular at the local coffee shop. In the last six months I also started drinking it at home.
When my cholesterol was checked 08/26/2015 it was higher than it's ever been. My total cholesterol was 353 LDL 263 Triglycerides 163. This report did not even show my HDL.
The first month I didn't do anything and continued drinking coffee.
The second month I started taking Red Yeast Rice Complex that also had CoQ10, Policosanol, Pantethine and Plant Sterols. I took 600 mg twice a day. My cholesterol was checked again on 10/24/2015. My total cholesterol was 276 HDL 73 LDL 183 and Triglycerides 87.
The third month I quit drinking coffee and continued taking this dosage for about another two weeks and then took 600 mg once a day until the bottle was gone.The beginning of the third month I also started a Terrain Modification program where I am only drinking nutrient dense liquids through out the day and eating one meal per day that is mostly raw. I just had my cholesterol checked again on 12/04/2015 and the total cholesterol was 239 HDL 87 Triglycerides 128 and LDL was 126.
My cholesterol ratio went from 6.2 down to 2.7 in just a little over three months.
RED YEAST RICE, according to research findings from Dr. Mercola (internet), RYRice is a STATIN drug. We were very surprised and were using as this information was not divulged. It is Lovastatin (Mevacor and Altocor). So if you believe you are taking a natural supplement - Surprise! Provided your tests after statin drugs were good, you are better off to NOT take anything for cholesterol, eat heallthy and take lots of vitamins. Statins are a danger to the liver, as we all know. Same goes for Red Yeast Rice. Manufacturers are very clever hiding the statin facts. Also if the RYR contains citrinin, it is dangerous. Should be removed. Again that information not found on most supplements on the market. Good cholesterol is one of our best friends and is vital componet of every cell membrane. Eat healthy to maintain good cholesterol levels. Love this site - very beneficial. I go no where else to get natural remedies. Wonderful site!
I also experienced leg cramps while taking red yeast rice. However, I found that switching to taking it in the a.m. and not the afternoon or p.m. made a huge difference. I don't even get cramps every day now.
I am pro Red Yeast because after taking it about a year, my total numbers dropped 50 points! From 289 to 233 and my ratios all improved (they were good before, now even better). Not much change in diet other than that. I take just ONE 600 mg capsule per day.
Response to Patricia. Yes the red yeast rice works better than the statin drugs and it is all natural. Much better for the body. But be sure you take at least 200 mg. of COQ10 with it because red yeast rice takes COQ10 out of your body. Besides COQ10 protects the heart. My husband has been doing this for years and his doctor can't believe how good his cholesterol levels always are.
High Cholesterol: My bad cholesterol was over 200. After taking one 1200 mg. of red yeast rice tablet in the morning and one in the evening for 3 months, it dropped to 170 and my good cholesterol rose. I saw a report on this on the national news health watch segment. They reported that is does as well or better than statin drugs.
I decided to try red rice yeast after taking statins for several years for high cholesterol. I changed my lifestyle; eating oats for breakfast every day and walking at least 30 minutes per day. Then I substituted red rice yeast instead of the statins. Two months after stopping the statins and taking red rice yeast, my cholesterol is down to 5.5. With the guidance of my medical herbalist, I am reducing the red rice yeast gradually, and expect not to need it at all eventually.
My cholesterol has always been high around 276 and my doctor did not believe at that time to treat it, I am in good shape, but when I turned 64, he put me on simvastatin 20 MG. My legs started to cramp up immediately, so I stopped and told him i would research other ways.I saw some data on Red Yeast Rice and took it for 3 months and had my blood tested, my cholesterol droped 40 points my TG went down, he said keep doing what you are doing. I also take 1000 MG of Flax seed. The Red Yeast Rice I cut back to 600MG every other day. I will get my blood tested next week and see what is going on. Test Kidney and Liver. I cut back because i had some very minor stomach reaction. I found that you should check all the ingredients in Red Yeast Rice, you want no other items in it. I purchase it from a Health Store where i can talk to the owner who is an Herbalist. By my dropping the dosage it may not be that effective. I will wait for my tests and then I will react. I have no intention on trying to reduce cholesterol to below 200, I think you can put to much of anything into your body. I will post after my blood tests. Thanks
Brendan (Santa Barbara, California) on 11/19/2007:
My osteopath prescribed red yeast rice for elevated triglycerides/cholesterol. Despite looking fit my triglycerides were so high that I was borderline diabetic. I took these daily and now my triglycerides are normal and my cholesterol is below 200 (very important as my Father died in his 40s from heart disease). Red Yeast rice is a statin and is so effective that a prominent drug company tried to get it taken off shelves as they argued it was infringing on their patent. Red yeast rice is available at most health food stores and is best taken with coenzyme q10.
I have been on four different cholesterol meds and all have affected my legs. I even tried the Red yeast Rice and had the same results. Am now trying one more new prescription. Red yeast rice was not effective Wife having problems now and is try a med plus is going to try the vinegar and water.
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