Red yeast rice or monascus purpureus has been often used to lower cholesterol levels. Its local names are Hong Qu, red rice as well as red yeast. This is used in some herbal medicines and herb combinations as well. But actually the chemicals present in this kind of rice are really harmful. There are many side affects that may come with the addition of this substance into one’s body. They may include headache, indigestion, nausea of severe kind, bloating and gas, dizziness, heartburn, muscle pain, liver inflammation and peripheral nerve damage.

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