Chasing the Cholesterol Numbers

This is the first time in twenty years that I was able to lower my total cholesterol below 200. I got the great news yesterday during my follow up visit to my family doctor. My level was now down to 175, a 50 point drop since last March. He was impressed, but had a cautious outlook on my methodology. I'm not accusing him of being "in bed" with the large drug companies, but it certainly appears the medical profession has been brainwashed by them, instilling a mindset that only expensive drugs can cure us all.

My previous doctor and I had a running battle over the statin issue. My cholesterol level was usually around 220 -230, and he was almost insistent on prescribing one of the current statin drugs. I was insistent on being resistant to the idea, pointing out the cost and the possible side effects.

I tried using ground flaxseed, but was disappointed with the results - -my cholesterol only dropped to 205. He tried once again to get me on the statins, but I refused. He then told me that some of his patients had excellent results on Red Rice Yeast.

What the hell is Red Rice Yeast? It sounded like a fungal disease rather than a beneficial supplement. So I did what all curious folks would do - - I googled the name.

Red yeast rice has been used in China for centuries as both a food and as a medicinal substance. It's made by fermenting a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus over red rice. What's really interesting is that it contains lovastatin, a popular cholesterol-lowering statin present in the prescription drugs of today.

A lot of controversy surrounds this, as the FDA tried to remove this supplement from the shelves and make it available only by prescription. Intense lobbying by the supplement industry prevented that. Good for us consumers. But, it's also a two-edged sword as the lobbyists also managed to remove purity and content standards. So, it becomes very important that whoever you order from has purity and standard extract standards.

I would also advise informing your doctor that you are taking the supplement, as you could experience some bad side effects much like the prescription drugs. A lot of herbal supplements can interfere with the other drugs you are taking, offering the potential of some major health issues.

In my case, I took a 600mg capsule with each meal (3x daily), and it only cost $8.39 for a month's supply. I also plan on taking Omega 3 fish oil caps to shift the HDL-LDL ("good cholesterol - bad cholesterol) ratio in a better direction. I'll report the results of that in 6 months or so.

If you plan on taking Red Rice Yeast, be sure to order from a reputable company that guarantees the purity and that it is a standardized extract, meaning the same amount is present in every capsule and bottle.