300815 Fri Sep 09 13:32:00 -0700 2005 6 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1674050 According to my latest blood test, my HDL-C cholesterol & triglycerides are just fine but my LDL-C cholesterol needs to be lowered a bit. I think I can do this with just diet & exercise. My doctor recommended red yeast as something that can help. Is this true or is it a bunch of hooey? Fri Sep 09 13:32:00 -0700 2005 0 Chorus Girl 1 1674088 I was intrigued by your question and Googled red yeast+cholesterol . There is a lot of information there and a suggestion that the red rice yeast has been pulled from the market. You might want to take a look. Fri Sep 09 21:20:40 -0700 2005 1674050 0 Candy 2 1674126 I have been on red yeast rice for 6 years and got my cholesterol from 240 to 169 as of last week. Red Yeast Rice has some of the same ingredients as MEVOCOR and the cholesterol lowering drug manufacturers are trying real hard to get RED YEAST RICE off the market because it works and works well with everyone that I suggested to try it. Irwin Sat Sep 10 22:01:04 -0700 2005 1674088 0 Irwin 1 1674094 My husband has been taking 2 red yeast rice capsules, 81mg aspirin, high potency B vitamin & 2 pills folic acid daily for over a year now. (recommended by a cardiologist). His cholesterol dropped from 237 to 150 within the first few months and is now down to 115. He also just joined a gym and he has been eating less red meat and cheese and we now read labels. I say the vitamins work. Fri Sep 09 23:34:01 -0700 2005 1674050 0 sandy 1 1674105 You can try it, but I recently lowered my cholesterol 100 points (same as you, good HDL, bad LDL) 260 down to 160 by exercising a little more- I didn't join a gym or anything, just a little extra walking like parking father away in the parking lot at the store, avoiding saturated fats but I still had red meat occasionally--- which definitely effects the LDL, and by upping my fiber intake (which I believe is the key)by eating whole grains when possible and a Sara Lee Delightful high fiber bagel for breakfasts. I actually still eat eggs, believe it or not more than when my cholesterol had tested high. I eat a lot of smart balance butter substitute and use olive oil in cooking. I was completely shocked at the 100 point drop because it didn't feel like I had drastically changed anything I was doing. I guess little changes amounted to a lot. Sat Sep 10 12:36:45 -0700 2005 1674050 0 Mandy 2 1674166 It is quite possible one or both tests were wrong, especially if neither were done after fasting. serum cholesterol levels can swing wildly after certain meals, and a 100 point dropn even medication, over a short term is impossible. Mon Sep 12 10:36:22 -0700 2005 1674105 0 Two Forks 1 1674118 Go to www.iherb.com, where you can not only find out plenty of information about Red Yeast Rice extract, but choose from many products at some of the best prices anywhere. If you have access to a chinatown, you can purchase it under the name of "sumalin". Asian herbalists have known about this substance, as a cholesterol regulator, for many years. In fact I think they discovered the amazing properties of red yeast rice extract. Sat Sep 10 18:34:00 -0700 2005 1674050 0 Louis