Red yeast rice is made by fermenting a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus over red rice. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Red yeast rice contains several compounds that have been shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties, including monacolin K. Monacolin K is the same compound that is found in the prescription cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin. Studies have shown that red yeast rice can lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels by up to 30%, and can also rai