Red Yeast Rice is a staple of Chinese cuisine. Its long history of wellness uses stem from its support of overall health and wellness.** Red Yeast Rice Supplements are also known to:
What is Red Yeast Rice?
Used in Traditional Chinese wellness practices and cuisine for hundreds of years, red yeast rice (RYR) is made when a strain of yeast called Monascus purpureus is allowed to ferment over rice. Red yeast rice has been traditionally used as a food coloring, preservative and spice, as well as in making rice wine and fish sauce. Perhaps most notably, red yeast rice is what gives the famous Chinese culinary dish Peking duck its distinctive red color.**
With culinary and wellness uses dating back until at least the year 800 AD, red yeast rice is a staple in China and eastern cultures. Populations in these regions consume anywhere between 14 g to 55 g of food containing red yeast rice on a daily basis. RYR also has a rich and storied history of use as a dietary supplement in traditional Chinese wellness practices.**
It has been investigated by Western researchers as well, who are still endeavoring to identify the exact mechanisms behind its health-supportive effects. Researchers have discovered that specific compounds in RYR appear to have potent antioxidant properties.**
In addition to its potential to support antioxidant defenses within the body, which can help to neutralize harmful free radicals that cause oxidative stress, limited research suggests RYR may also influence blood sugar levels, heart health and immune system performance.**
Red Yeast Rice Supplements
With its widespread use as a spice and a food coloring in China, red yeast rice is commonly consumed in a variety of dishes. However, the amounts of RYR used in these dishes are so small as to not provide any beneficial effects. Many choose to take RYR nutritional supplements instead.**
Red yeast rice supplements have become most popular for supporting overall cardiovascular well-being. Supplements typically present RYR as an extract in tablet or capsule form.**
Red Yeast Rice Directions for Use
Always speak with your primary health care provider before starting any nutritional supplement regimen. Typical RYR dosage ranges between 600 mg to 1,200 mg daily.**
