Latest news with #purpureus
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Health
- Toronto Sun
This food staple is great for your heart health: Expert
Red yeast rice won't go down as the most popular variety on earth, but it's one that health experts say should be on your radar. Photo by iStock / GETTY IMAGES Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. It's a rice that's nice for your health. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. 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Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Red yeast rice won't go down as the most popular variety on earth, but it's one that health experts say should be on your radar. 'Red yeast rice is a brightly coloured compound used in food and health products that is made by fermenting rice with a special type of yeast known as Monascus purpureus,' Amanda Frick, vice-president medical affairs at Thorne, said, per the New York Post . 'Red yeast rice has been used in traditional Chinese and Western botanical medicine to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and support blood circulation.' According to research, the crimson product contains naturally occurring compounds that can help keep total and LDL cholesterol, as well as triglycerides — the most common type of fat in the body — at optimal levels. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The rice variety also contains other compounds such as phytosterols betasitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and isoflavones that can help keep your heart running smoothly. The magic element has less to do with what's in it as it does with what's on it. 'Red yeast rice does get a lot more attention for its health benefits than your everyday white or brown rice. The 'magic' of red yeast rice isn't actually in the rice itself — it's in what's grown on it,' Frick said. 'While white and brown rice provide a source of carbohydrates and fibre (depending on the rice type), they do not contain the additional nutrients like sterols and antioxidants that are found in red yeast rice.' While referred to as a rice, it's actually more commonly found in powdered form or as a supplement, or in some fermented foods. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'There are foods like fermented tofu, red rice vinegar and Japanese rice wine (sake) that include red yeast rice,' Frick said. 'Depending on the specific use in traditional Chinese medicine, it may be best prepared with other food ingredients or at a particular temperature. 'For uses in botanical medicine, it's often preferred to offer in a supplement form for consistent delivery of the bioactive compounds in red yeast rice.' Read More The side effects tend to be relatively mild — gas, tummy troubles, headache and reddish poop — but red yeast rice isn't for everyone. 'As with any new dietary supplement, it's important to discuss starting red yeast rice with your health professional, who can determine if this is the right option for you, your lifestyle and your overall wellness plan,' she said. 'Women who are trying to become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn't take red yeast rice. Those who have kidney or liver disease also shouldn't take it. Additionally, it may interact with certain medications, supplements, alcohol and grapefruit.' One potential red flag is contamination. Some red yeast supplements can contain citrinin — a toxic byproduct of the fermentation process that can damage kidneys or liver. Sports Canada Sunshine Girls Columnists Sunshine Girls
New York Post
6 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Asian food staple great for heart health — the ‘magic' is actually what's grown on it, expert says
Rice, rice, baby. Not everyone knows that rice is a whole world that extends far beyond the white or brown on offer at your Chinese local. But there's one particularly healthy variety that has managed to largely fly under the radar on this side of the pond. 3 Red yeast rice — used in traditional Chinese medicine — is known for its benefits for cardiovascular health. MilletStudio – 'Red yeast rice is a brightly colored compound used in food and health products that is made by fermenting rice with a special type of yeast known as Monascus purpureus,' Dr. Amanda Frick, VP Medical Affairs at Thorne, told The Post. 'Red yeast rice has been used in traditional Chinese and western botanical medicine to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and support blood circulation.' Research has shown this crimson product contains naturally occurring compounds that can help keep total and LDL cholesterol — as well as triglycerides, which are the most common type of fat in the body — at optimal levels. It also contains a bunch of other, unpronounceable compounds — such as phytosterols beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol, and isoflavones — that can help keep your ticker running smoothly. But the real secret sauce isn't what's in it so much as on it. 'Red yeast rice does get a lot more attention for its health benefits than your everyday white or brown rice. The 'magic' of red yeast rice isn't actually in the rice itself — it's in what's grown on it,' Frick said. 3 Research has shown this crimson product contains naturally occurring compounds that can help keep total and LDL cholesterol — as well as triglycerides, which are the most common type of fat in the body — at optimal levels. Syda Productions – 'While white and brown rice provide a source of carbohydrates and fiber (depending on the rice type), they do not contain the additional nutrients like sterols and antioxidants that are found in red yeast rice.' While it is a rice, it's more commonly found in powdered form or as a supplement — or in some fermented foods. 'There are foods like fermented tofu, red rice vinegar, and Japanese rice wine (sake) that include red yeast rice,' Frick said. 'Depending on the specific use in traditional Chinese medicine, it may be best prepared with other food ingredients or at a particular temperature. 'For uses in botanical medicine, it's often preferred to offer in a supplement form for consistent delivery of the bioactive compounds in red yeast rice.' 3 'While white and brown rice provide a source of carbohydrates and fiber (depending on the rice type), they do not contain the additional nutrients like sterols and antioxidants that are found in red yeast rice,' Frick said. Pixel-Shot – While the side effects tend to be relatively mild — think gas, tummy troubles, headache and reddish poop — red yeast rice isn't for everyone. 'As with any new dietary supplement, it's important to discuss starting red yeast rice with your health professional, who can determine if this is the right option for you, your lifestyle and your overall wellness plan,' she said. 'Women who are trying to become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn't take red yeast rice. Those who have kidney or liver disease also shouldn't take it. Additionally, it may interact with certain medications, supplements, alcohol and grapefruit.' One other red flag: contamination. Some red yeast rice supplements can contain citrinin — a toxic byproduct of the fermentation process that can damage your kidneys or liver. Red yeast rice might not be magic — but when it's properly made and thoughtfully used, it could be a powerful addition to your heart-health toolkit.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Virus-Trapping Gum Could Help Neutralize Herpes Infections
A special type of chewing gum can 'trap' and neutralize some influenza and herpes viruses, according to new experiments from scientists in the US and Finland. The herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1/-2) can both cause oral herpes, and despite being one of the most common infections in the world, there are hardly any preventative measures available today to stop the spread. Some scientists are hopeful that this new anti-viral gum could help fill that gap, especially as research on a herpes vaccine stalls due to a lack of funding. Plus, even if a vaccine is found, there are likely to be breakthrough infections, and chewing gum could help stop those from spreading further. Current vaccines for influenza, for instance, do not prevent transmission from breakthrough infections, so this gum could be a useful addition for treating orally spread viruses. The clinical-grade chewy is made from lablab bean powder, ground from the seeds of the Lablab purpureus species, which contain a natural viral trap protein called FRIL. In experiments using a mechanical mouth, chewing the liquid-soaked gum for 15 minutes released more than 50 percent of the FRIL proteins it contained. Collecting the simulated saliva from this chewing, researchers then tested how well the liquid neutralizes viruses. Depending on the dose of FRIL to start with, the 'saliva' produced from chewing showed greater than 95 percent neutralization of the H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses in the lab. It also showed up to 75 percent neutralization of the HSV-1 virus and up to 94 percent of the HSV-2 virus – the two most common herpes viruses out there. Neutralization means that the virus is less likely to infect cells and replicate itself, which would theoretically lead to a reduce viral load and lower chances of transmission. "These observations augur well for evaluating bean gum in human clinical studies to minimize virus infection/transmission," conclude the authors, led by biochemist Henry Daniell from the University of Pennsylvania. The new study builds on previous experiments, which found that chewing gum containing certain anti-virals can get rid of more than 95 percent of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in mouth swabs or saliva samples, thereby reducing oral transmission of COVID-19. Scientists are now testing that 'anti-COVID' chewing gum in clinical trials, but in the meantime, researchers are turning to other viruses to see if the solution works there as well. For instance, another previous study published in 2020 on lablab beans found that FRIL proteins effectively reduced levels of H5N1 and H7N9 – both of which are influenza viruses that can cause flu in humans and birds. "Controlling transmission of viruses continues to be a major global challenge," says Daniell. "A broad spectrum antiviral protein (FRIL) present in a natural food product (bean powder) to neutralize not only human flu viruses but also avian (bird) flu is a timely innovation to prevent their infection and transmission." The approach seems to be most suitable for reducing viral loads in saliva and the throat area, which are two main sites of oral viral transmission. The US FDA generally considers lablab bean powder to be safe and non-toxic for human use at low enough levels. Whether it proves to be an effective anti-viral in clinical trials is another matter. The study was published in Molecular Therapy. These 7 Common Daily Habits Could Be Damaging Your Kidneys Statins Could Reduce Dementia Risk Even in People With Low Cholesterol Review of Thousands of Studies Confirms Best Way to Keep Memory Sharp
