It may be hard to believe, but nearly 46% of the U.S. Population is taking some sort of prescription medication! One of the most common and frequently prescribed of those medications are Statin medications. These medications are used for the treatment and management of high cholesterol and are currently on track to a record a whopping ONE TRILLION dollars in sales for 2020. After being introduced to the market in the 1980s, this class of drugs has been a fundamental tool for physicians in their treatment plan for patients suffering from this common ailment.
However, like most prescription medications, they come with warnings, side effects, and risks. This common knowledge, coupled with the cost of prescription drugs, has many people seeking alternatives to help manage their cholesterol https://fitandpsyched.com/blog/vegetarian-or-vegan/. With homeopathic medicine becoming more widely accepted, it’s now much easier to find more affordable and natural remedies! Two of the more popular alternatives are Red Yeast Rice and CoQ10. But can Red Yeast Rice and CoQ10 help lower cholesterol?
Red Yeast Rice
Countries like China, have been turning to alternative medicine for centuries. In regards to cholesterol management, Chinese Medicine has a long history of utilizing Red Yeast Rice. Research has shown that Red Yeast Rice contains chemical compounds that are similar to those in prescription statins. One of those chemicals is called Monacolin K, which is believed to lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) and your triglyceride levels! Professionals aren’t completely sure why Red Yeast Rice helps lower cholesterol levels. It may be the chemical compounds, like Monacolin K, that has a similar chemical makeup to prescription statins… or it may be the additional nutritional benefits that it contains, like unsaturated fatty acids! What we do know is that Red Yeast Rice does it’s best to stop the production of an enzyme in the body that helps create cholesterol.
Unfortunately, since Monacolin K has been patented by a prescription drug company, most Red Yeast Rice products containing monacolins have been removed from shelves by the FDA. You can still get Red Yeast Rice but you’ll have to enjoy the benefits of the other substances in the product.
CoQ10
In many cases, Red Yeast Rice has also been partnered with a very common supplement, CoQ10. Coenzyme Q10 is a substance that is naturally occurring in the body. Your cells use it to generate energy and it also functions as a powerful antioxidant to fight against free radicals that can damage your cells!
CoQ10 not only can potentially lower your bad cholesterol on its own, but it can also ease muscle pain that is a common side effect of prescription statins! Statin medication typically result in lower natural CoQ10 product in your muscle tissue. Since CoQ10 is super important for your heart and muscle health and energy production, it may be beneficial to speak with your doctor about adding a CoQ10 supplement to your routine!
Other Ways To Combat Bad Cholesterol
If you are looking to fight your high cholesterol, in addition to researching natural supplements (like Red Yeast Rice and CoQ10), we suggest implementing the following:
• Reducing saturated fats and trans fats in your diet. Saturated fats are mostly found in red meat and full-fat dairy products. Trans fats are included in a lot of processed foods, like cookies, crackers, and cakes. You can find it listed in the ingredients as “partially hydrogenated” oils. The good thing is, the FDA is placing a ban on all partially hydrogenated vegetable oils by January of 2021!
• Adding exercise to your day! Yes, exercising can help your cholesterol! It raises your HDL (healthy cholesterol) and can help you reduce body fat! We suggest 30 minutes a day, at least five times per week.
• Cutting out a few drinks! If you are a frequent drinker, we suggest reducing your intake. Too much alcohol can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart problems like heart failure or strokes.
So you ask, can Red Yeast Rice and CoQ10 help lower cholesterol? The answer is yes, along with these other tips we have given you! As you know, here at Fit and Psyched we are huge supporters of finding natural ways to improve your health. However, sometimes these ailments require medication. We always recommend working closely with your doctor to improve your cholesterol levels and changing your lifestyle for the better!
