Table of contents:
- Various health benefits of Angkak (red yeast rice)
- 1. Cure dengue fever (DB)
- 2. Lowering blood pressure
- 3. Lowering cholesterol
- Another benefit of Angkak
Angkak is ordinary white rice that undergoes a fermentation process with the fungus Monascus purpureus, so that it gets the distinctive dark red-purple color that is known by many people. This brown rice has been used by the Chinese and almost all Asian communities around the world as a food preservative, food coloring agent, a mixture of cooking spices, and also an ingredient in rice wine.
In addition to its prestige in the culinary world, Angkak rice has also been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine which is believed to be useful for increasing blood circulation and reducing digestive disorders, such as diarrhea.
What does the modern medical world say about the health benefits of Angkak rice?
Various health benefits of Angkak (red yeast rice)
1. Cure dengue fever (DB)
In Indonesia, Angkak is one of the most popular herbal medicines to cure dengue fever which is rife during the rainy season. Angkak can significantly increase blood platelets thanks to its anti-inflammatory effect. This is evident in a study from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga which reported a drastic decrease in TPO (trombopoietin) levels, the main measure in assessing the severity of DB infection and the potential for life-threatening bleeding, in the spinal cord of dengue fever patients.
ALSO READ: 5 Easy Steps to Prevent Dengue Fever
2. Lowering blood pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic medical condition that has the potential to be life threatening. Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, human studies have shown that Angkak can improve blood flow by dilating blood vessels and reducing inflammation thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, more research is needed to determine the effect of RYR on heart disease symptoms and the risk of death from these two conditions.
3. Lowering cholesterol
Reporting from the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Angkak generally contains a number of compounds that are similar to the active ingredients in high cholesterol prescription drugs called statins. Doctors prescribe statins to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and help reduce the risk of heart disease. In particular, this red yeast rice may contain monacolin K, a compound that is chemically identical to lovastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug. Several studies have shown Angkak is effective in reducing bad cholesterol (LDL and triglycerides), which is 10-33% in LDL cholesterol.
ALSO READ: 9 Things Your Doctor Should Ask When Checking Cholesterol
However, researchers are still not sure if red yeast rice lowers cholesterol due to statin chemicals such as or because of other things red yeast rice, such as unsaturated fatty acids, isoflavones, and phytosterols that can lower cholesterol besides monacolin K, the cholesterol-lowering mechanism of Angkak still unclear.
In addition, because of the high content of monacolin K, Angkak extract supplements are classified by the FDA as a medical drug (which has not been approved) when viewed from all possible side effects, drug interactions, and generalized precautions with lovastatin. This is the reason behind why the FDA requires manufacturers to withdraw any Angkak products containing monacolin from the market.
According to the FDA, it is illegal to sell red yeast rice supplements that contain cholesterol-lowering substances that exceed the limit and also to promote Angkak rice as an alternative to lowering cholesterol levels. First, statin drugs are associated with muscle and kidney injury when used alone or in combination with other drugs.
There is concern that patients who are being treated using statins may increase the risk of injury and / or chronic muscle pain or severe kidney injury with or without taking Angkak (either in natural form or in herbal supplements). Second, the FDA considers that cholesterol-lowering supplement products containing Angkak extract are still relatively new, have not been approved for safety, and violate Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regulations.
ALSO READ: 6 Ways to Lower Cholesterol in the Body
Another benefit of Angkak
Apart from the above three conditions, red yeast rice is also used to help with other health conditions, although its effectiveness is unknown. These conditions include:
- High cholesterol associated with HIV
- Diabetes
- Liver disease, for example fatty liver
- Coronary heart disease
- Digestive problems, including diarrhea and other digestive disorders
The use of Angkak for health conditions above is still based on tradition and very limited scientific theories. Often times, these theories have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and their effectiveness and safety are not always guaranteed. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.
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