surgical management of congenital heart disease

surgical management of congenital heart disease
red yeast rice has been for more than a thousand years by the Chinese to improve the blood circulation. Red yeast rice contains several ingredients that help decrease cholesterol. This includes a number of monacolins, especially monacolin K. Moreover, it contains sterols, isoflavones, fatty acids and simple, or "healthy fats". "Red yeast rice is the fermented product of rice on which red yeast (Monascus purpureus) has been grown.

In China, the consumption of red yeast rice has been found to reduce total cholesterol by 11-32%. Red yeast rice is a staple diet in many Asian countries, including Japan and China. Typical daily consumption is between 0.5 to 2.0 ounces per day. It was also in the USA by the Asian Americans and has been shown to reduce cholesterol and prevent heart disease.

There are three major preparations of red yeast rice: Zhitai, Cholestin or Hypocol and Xuezhikang. Cholestin or Hypocol a concentration of monacolin K lovastatin, the active ingredient in the drug Mevacor.

In surveys carried out by the Chinese, Zhitai and Xuezhikang showed that total cholesterol was reduced by 10-30%, LDL-cholesterol was an average of 10-20%, triglycerides decreased by 15-25% and HDL by an average of 7 -15%.

Studies at UCLA have shown that Cholestin reduced total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, but had no effect on HDL cholesterol.

These studies have been for several weeks, so that the long-term effects of consumption of red yeast rice is unknown. But many Asians have eaten red yeast rice for generations without any particular problems, it is a traditional Chinese medicine.

In the United States, the FDA asked the manufacturers of red yeast products, order them from the market because they lovastatin. The FDA cited the risk of serious muscle problems that could lead to kidney disease. So, if you purchase from red yeast rice extracts, you must go to other countries or the Internet.

More research needs to be done before we know about the long-term safety of red yeast rice. We know that some types of red yeast rice can be more dangerous than others, because high levels of other substances such as citrinic acid.

It is the purity and concentration issues, one must keep in mind. The amount of monacolin - perhaps the most important ingredient - may be very different. There are many different strains of yeast. Various types of fermentation are. A study of the different brands of red yeast rice supplements have shown that the amount of monacolin ranged from 0% to 0.58%.

Also there may be drug interactions questions. It is best to consult with your doctor before you try to lower cholesterol with red yeast rice.

About the Author: Tim Lazaro is a nutrition scholar and competitive, masters runner who writes on issues related to heart health, natural food diets and aerobics. Through the use of diet and lifestyle changes that he writes what he has lowered his total cholesterol and lost weight. If you are sick and tired of the fight against high cholesterol battle, give yourself a break and download the free guide here: Five Secrets to lowering cholesterol