NOW Supplements, Red Yeast Rice (Monascus purpureus) 1,200 mg, Nutritional Support, 120 Tablets

Not a silver bullet but helps

This product seems to help lower my cholesterol somewhat. NOW Foods is a reputable producer which I trust to ensure the removal of any harmful byproducts that can result in manufacturing red yeast rice pills. High cholesterol runs in my family. Sure enough mine started to rise to just under 200 by the time I was around 40 years old. I started to take this and a few months later my "bad" cholesterol dropped from the high 190s to mid to low 180s. I have been taking it since, along with CoQ10 which is recommended. Three or four years later my cholesterol is still under 200. I recently also started to take Omega 3 - Wholemega by New Chapter. I take Green Vibrance, another product that promotes proper biological function and accompanying reduction of cholesterol, three or four times a week first thing in the morning with the other pills. Most of the negative reviews of this product complain about the large pill size, which has nothing to do with efficacy. The pill is a typical very large pill which should pose no problems for those used to very large pills. If you are more comfortable with smaller capsules the product comes in that size too. Full disclosure: there is literature out there which says that the effects of red yeast rice are unproven, it can have harmful byproducts, and it can have negative health effects. I have experienced none of these

43 persons found it helpful

I can't believe it worked!

I had read that Red Yeast Rice Extract could naturally lower cholesterol. I was skeptical, but considering that my yearly physical was fast approaching and my cholesterol had been 220 at my last visit, I was desperate to try anything that might keep me off of prescription meds. I took 2 pills every morning for the 2 weeks before my physical and my cholesterol came back at 187! I cannot tell you how shocked I was, considering that my diet has been a trainwreck lately. The only thing that could've lowered it is this supplement. Nothing else had changed. I've tried different supplements throughout my life with rarely any results, but this has really been a godsend. This will be one that I take religiously from here on out. If you struggle with high cholesterol, I highly recommend you give this product a try

41 persons found it helpful

THE BEST & MOST EFFECTIVE BRAND!!!

I'm very young, thin, & have tried everything to lower my cholesterol. From red wine, to exercise, to a healthy diet. Nothing worked well enough. I tried this product about 2 years ago. My cholesterol dropped approx 60 points in 3 weeks. My doctors were amazed. I switched to a different (cheaper) brand, & then my cholesterol increased about 30 points. I'm only buying this brand from now on. Without this, the doctor's said that they would have to put me on prescription medication. I'm in my early 30's, & very healthy otherwise. I'll stick with this more natural alternative. Everyone I've recommended this to, has had their cholesterol plunge significantly! Great bu

37 persons found it helpful

Herbal Supplement

This is a great product that has helped me to regulate my blood pressure. However, always take it with Co Q 10 as it depletes CoQ10 in your body

25 persons found it helpful

Dropped my cholesterol almost 80 points!

My cholesterol was 310 and my doc put me on the statin drug Crestor. Even though it brought my cholesterol down drastically, I felt like this drug was making me severely lose my memory. I gave this product a try and when I retested, my overall cholesterol dropped almost 80 points to 233, which is a range I have been for the past 20 years. My HLD (good) cholesterol remained very high, which ultimately lowers my risk as well. I do still try to avoid foods high in cholesterol (though not lately) and I have an occasional glass of Rioja red wine, which is supposed to be one of the wines that can lower cholesterol

20 persons found it helpful

I'd become alarmed after my brother had bypass surgery and I learned of the alarmingly poor cardiac history on both sides of our

My nurse practitioner ordered a repeat lipid panel 8 weeks after I began taking this product. I'd become alarmed after my brother had bypass surgery and I learned of the alarmingly poor cardiac history on both sides of our family. At 8 weeks the level of my total cholesterol was down by 20% and LDL ("bad") was down 30%. Those values were then in the normal range. I cannot prove that the cause was this product. However I have worked as a cardiac rehab nurse and heard this product recommended by some pretty traditional practitioners. My partner had similar results 5 years ago. No ill effects. Seems like it merits more study

17 persons found it helpful

Results speak for themselves

I will let the Results give the Review: Diagnosis: (3/06/2015) Tests: (3) LIPID PANEL (173) RBC [H] 5.83 M/UL 4.10-5.70 CHOLESTEROL [H] 292 MG/DL <200 TRIGLYCERIDES [H] 217 MG/DL <150 HDL CHOLESTEROL [L] 34 MG/DL >39 CALCULATED LDL CHOL [H] 215 MG/DL <100 RISK RATIO LDL/HDL [H] 6.31 RATIO <3.55 ---(85 Days Later)--- Tests: (4) LIPID PANEL (173) RBC 5.55 M/UL 4.10-5.70 CHOLESTEROL 169 MG/DL <200 TRIGLYCERIDES [H] 171 MG/DL <150 HDL CHOLESTEROL [L] 34 MG/DL >39 CALCULATED LDL CHOL [H] 101 MG/DL <100 RISK RATIO LDL/HDL 2.96 RATIO <3.55 I rode my Bike 10 miles once the entire time and went walking 3-4 times less than 15 miles total the entire time. (Not much exercise other than normal walking at work and around home) I work from home also so not much walking around. I am trying to get out more and exercise as well. In the last 18 days I began taking CoQ10 (NOW). During the entire time I was also taking Garlic, Ginger, Dandelion root, boiled cabbage juice, I was also raw juicing 1-2 a week (celery, beets, ginger, carrots nothing controlled just various vegetables). I cut out sugar, bread, I did eat Whole Grain a few times during the 85 days. I ate meat maybe 1-2 times the entire 85 days as well. (I also stopped eating meat in Oct 2014 but in March shows my results were dangerously high still (no exercise neither)). I was also taking Swiss Kriss 1-2 pills daily or as needed. I also was taking Alaskan fish oil (2 a day) from Wholefoods. Dosage: RYR-1200mg x3 times a day breakfast, midday, before bed. I only drank water, herbal tea, (lots of Dandelion tea, Skin Detox (yogi)), lots of other detox herbal teas) I did drink coffee maybe 4-5 times in the 85 days, I am not addicted to coffee so that was nice to help increase detox strengths.) During the 85 days I also took Milk Thistle, Licorice and Marshmallow Root for about 40 days of the 85 days. Hope this helps someone in detail to get your numbers down and get you feeling better! (Dr. wanting me on Statins) I read all the side effects and scared my pants off, not to mention the price tag for a bottle of that crazy stuff). I Read (Red) Yeast Rice was a no brainer for me and I dropped over 123 Points in Cholesterol alone (292 to 169) <200

17 persons found it helpful

Is working for me

My doctor put me on Lipitor last year for high cholesterol. After a few months the side effects were really starting to bother me. After some internet research and Dr Oz recommendation I went off the Lipitor and started taking the Red Yeast Rice. I had my cholesterol checked again after 6 months and it had gone down over 40 points. I am looking forward to getting it checked again in a few months to see if the numbers have gone down anymore. I like this formulation because I can't take pills very well and capsule are out. These crush easily and really don't taste bad at all. The Red Yeast that are in the capsules tastes really awful! I just have to remember to take CoQ10 with this. I will continue to use this product for as long as it is working for me

17 persons found it helpful

Hope it works for you, did nothing for me.

Tried the NOW Foods brand of red yeast rice for four months, 1200 mg/day. After doing a lot of research on the internet, I found that the maximum commonly recommended adult dose for red yeast rice is 2400 mg/day. Most of the reviews I read claimed excellent results. Thought half the max dose would do the relatively small reduction that I needed. At the end of four months, my total cholesterol was virtually unchanged. My doctor, who suggested the red yeast rice, thought that the 1200mg dose should have done something for me. I'm now taking a low dose generic statin that costs me about a dollar a week from Walmart. Hope it does the job. I did not find the tablet hard to take though it is on the large side. I experienced no side effects. I did take CoQ10 with the red yeast rice. Our diet was already low in cholesterol. Our bodies make cholerestol, mine just makes too much and red yeast rice didn't change it

13 persons found it helpful

Just keep trying till you get a good one for you

I am not going to bash this product. I want people to read this review and hopefully find it helpful. I know I read the 2 star reviews most often. So here it is. This didn't work for me. Notice I say FOR ME. Solaray didn't work either. Blue Bonnet did so please realise that every red yeast rice is different and you have to find the one that compliments you genetics. Please don't listen to success stories or failure stories and figure the same outcome will be yours. My cholesterol climbed with two of the top brands in supplements and it was pure luck I stumbled upon blue bonnet at a local store and decided to give it a go. In less than two months I dropped from 275 total cholesterol to 174. If you are looking, try it. These reviews mean nothing since everyone is unique. Just keep trying till you get a good one for you. And don't forget a good fish oil. Garden of life has a fair priced oil. These product in conjunction with coq10 will help. Good luck

13 persons found it helpful