That doesn’t sound very appetizing, does it? Nevertheless, it seems that a lot of people are buzzing about the positive effects of eating red yeast rice regularly.

I’d never heard of this stuff before, so I had to look it up. Apparently, red yeast rice is rice that has been specially cultivated with a mold called Monascus purpureus and has been used in Chinese medicine for more than a thousand years.

Red rice yeast is becoming more popular in western countries because studies have shown that this particular kind of rice can lower LDL (”bad” cholesterol) levels. Many people have reported success in taking red rice yeast as an OTC dietary supplement.

I checked out a few pictures of red rice yeast, and think the stuff looks absolutely nasty! I guess it wouldn’t be so bad in supplement form or whatever, but the thought of eating it in its natural state makes me want to gag.

Oh, and this is not a miracle cholesterol drug or anything like that. While LDL can be lowered, there are several side effects, including liver damage. So don’t go off and take this stuff by yourself. You need to be closely monitored by a doctor for safety and effectiveness.