• What it Does
• How Red Yeast Rice Works
• Benefits of Red Yeast Rice
• What to Look for in a Red Yeast Rice Supplement

Citrus Bergamot vs. Red Yeast Rice: Which One Is Right for You?
Benefits of Taking Citrus Bergamot and Red Yeast Rice Together

High cholesterol affects nearly 100 million Americans and raises the risk for heart problems, the leading cause of death in the U.S.

And while this statistic may be frightening, gold-standard research published in the most prestigious medical journals show that you can effectively address high cholesterol and lower your cardiovascular risk naturally with lifestyle changes and by taking the right dietary supplements.

Yet this is not what we are told by most mainstream doctors or media.

In conjunction with healthy lifestyle choices, there are two nutrients, backed by clear and rigorous scientific research, which I have found to be highly effective with my patients when it comes to lowering high cholesterol: citrus bergamot extract and red yeast rice extract.

In this article, I will explore the unique properties and benefits of each nutrient and examine how they work in the body. I will also discuss the scientific evidence supporting their use and why I use citrus bergamot as my “first line of defense” for lowering cholesterol.



Citrus bergamia is a yellowish-green citrus fruit grown predominantly in Southern Italy. Citrus bergamot juice has a long history of use throughout the region as a heart tonic and overall health enhancer.

Citrus bergamot has been shown to help lower LDL “bad” (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol while increasing “good” HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, contributing to improved overall cardiovascular health. Citrus bergamot’s ability to boost HDL is unique and valuable, since although HDL plays an important role in removing the dangerous form of cholesterol from your blood stream, it can be difficult to target.

In a landmark scientific study, participants took 1,000 mg of a patented citrus bergamot extract called Bergamonte® daily, producing these impressive results in just 30 days:

• Total cholesterol dropped 29%
• LDL cholesterol plunged 36%
• Triglycerides dropped 39%
• Beneficial HDL climbed 40%

Other research shows that flavonoids from citrus bergamot improve overall cholesterol balance. Specifically, citrus bergamot lowered LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing HDL cholesterol.

How It Works: Researchers have found that citrus bergamot’s flavonoids, particularly brutieridin and melitidin, improve cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the cell. This occurs through an upregulation of a cellular metabolism regulator called AMPK, which then leads to a decrease in cholesterol production. Furthermore, citrus bergamot helps remove cholesterol from the blood, inhibits cholesterol absorption in the gut and prevents LDL oxidation.

#2 Bonus Benefits: Citrus Bergamot Lowers Blood Sugar, Supports Weight Loss & Combats Inflammation

Beyond cholesterol regulation, research shows that citrus bergamot is effective for lowering blood sugar in both patients with high blood sugar and leads to better overall blood sugar balance in people already in the normal range. This means it may be effective both for preventing and reversing high blood sugar.

Clinical studies on patients with metabolic syndrome show that citrus bergamot decreases blood sugar levels, improves insulin resistance, and leads to a healthier body weight and body composition.

Additionally, the flavonoids in citrus bergamot provide potent antioxidant support, neutralizing free radicals and reducing the oxidative stress and inflammation that underlie various cardiovascular issues.

Citrus Bergamot Benefits

• Cholesterol Management: Supports healthy LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels and supports HDL cholesterol.

• Antioxidant Properties: High in flavonoids, which help combat oxidative stress.

• Anti-inflammatory Properties: Targets inflammation markers in the body.

• Blood Sugar Support: Helps support healthy blood glucose levels.

• Cardiovascular Health: Supports endothelial function, which is crucial for heart health.

• Weight Maintenance: May support weight maintenance, and specifically abdominal fat.

How to Choose a Citrus Bergamot Supplement

First and foremost, I recommend choosing a citrus bergamot supplement made with patented Bergamonte®. Unlike generic forms, Bergamonte® is standardized to a clinical strength of 38% polyphenols—the powerful constituents that balance cholesterol and regulate blood sugar.

Secondly, be sure to utilize the full clinical serving of 1,000 mg daily. The clinical studies clearly show that 1,000 mg daily is significantly more effective compared to the 500 mg dosage.

Additionally, look for a supplement enhanced with ingredients like vitamin C to help your body more efficiently utilize the cholesterol-balancing properties of citrus bergamot.

Because of the success I’ve experienced with my patients lowering LDL cholesterol levels with citrus bergamot, its incredible safety record, and the wide range of cardiovascular benefits it can provide, I consider citrus bergamot to be my “first line of defense” when it comes to addressing cholesterol issues.

Red Yeast Rice 101

Used as a cardiovascular remedy for over 700 years, red yeast rice is a well-researched and validated natural ingredient for lowering cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk factors.

Red yeast rice is made by fermenting white rice with a special type of yeast, and as a result, the rice turns bright reddish purple. Red yeast rice contains an array of natural cholesterol-lowering compounds, including plant sterols, flavonoids, isoflavones, and most notably, at least 13 active monacolins, which block an enzyme involved in cholesterol production in the liver.

What Does Red Yeast Rice do?

#1 Red Yeast Rice Offers Powerful Cholesterol-Lowering Support

The most well-researched benefit of red yeast rice is improved cholesterol levels. A clinical trial on individuals with high cholesterol levels showed that red yeast rice extract led to major reductions in LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in just 8 weeks.

Another clinical trial conducted on patients with high cholesterol found that red yeast rice led to marked decreases in LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.

How Red Yeast Rice Works: Red yeast rice can work for reducing cholesterol and lipids in several ways. For example, it upregulates receptors involved in cholesterol metabolism, enhances enzymes involved in fat breakdown, and helps prevent fat and cholesterol accumulation in the liver and other areas.

This makes it a valuable tool for those seeking targeted, effective natural support for cholesterol balance.

#2 Bonus Benefits: Red Yeast Rice Lowers CRP, Supports Blood Flow & Improves Insulin Sensitivity

In addition to its clinically proven ability to lower cholesterol levels, red yeast rice supports cardiovascular health in several other ways.

Clinical trials have shown that it lowers high-sensitive C-reactive protein, a key inflammatory marker known to have negative impacts on the cardiovascular system. It also improves insulin sensitivity, decreases leptin resistance, improves blood flow, and even has balancing effects on the immune system.

One clinical trial showed that red yeast rice led to significant reductions in inflammatory markers and increased endothelial function, both of which are signs of improved vascular health.

In another study, researchers discovered that red yeast rice greatly decreased markers of inflammation and vascular remodeling. This suggests that red yeast rice was effective for preventing dysfunction in the vascular system that could otherwise lead to health problems, such as atherosclerosis.

Red Yeast Rice Benefits

• Cholesterol Management: Contains compounds including monacolins which effectively lower LDL cholesterol.

• Cardiovascular Health: Supports overall heart health by improving lipid profiles.

• Anti-inflammatory Properties: Reduces markers of inflammation in the body.

• Digestive Health: Traditionally used to aid digestion and support gastrointestinal health.

• Cardiovascular Health: Supports endothelial function, which is crucial for heart health.

• Antioxidant Properties: Contains antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress.

• Potential Red Yeast Rice Side Effects: Can interact with statins and other cholesterol-lowering medications, potentially increasing the risk of side effects. Interactions with other medications metabolized by the liver.

How to Choose a Red Yeast Rice Supplement

Red yeast rice has been the subject of controversy at times because if a red yeast rice supplement is not produced with careful controls and testing in place, it has the potential to cause side effects. These side effects are most commonly caused by one or more of the following three reasons:

1) Excessive levels of the active compound
It’s vitally important to choose a red yeast rice extract that is standardized to ensure that it provides precisely the clinically validated levels and proper balance of active compounds needed to effectively lower cholesterol safely.

2) The presence of citrinin
Citrinin is a naturally occurring by-product of the fermentation process.

Citrinin is toxic to the kidneys and has been associated with serious adverse health effects. It is critical to find a Red Yeast Rice supplement that undergoes rigorous third-party, independent testing to ensure it is 100% free of this by-product.

3) CoQ10 depletion
Taking CoQ10 with red yeast rice is important to counterbalance the potential CoQ10-depleting effects of red yeast rice which can impact energy levels and cause muscle soreness. As a bonus, CoQ10 provides additional cardiovascular benefits by providing energy to the heart muscle, supporting the health of the arteries and providing powerful antioxidant benefits.

Citrus Bergamot vs. Red Yeast Rice: Which One Is Right for You?

As I mentioned earlier, I consider citrus bergamot to be my “first line of defense” when it comes to addressing any high cholesterol levels with my patients because it has proven to be effective and has virtually no side effects. Plus, it is more effective at increasing HDL (good) cholesterol.

I recommend taking 1,000 mg of Bergamonte® citrus bergamot daily, with a follow up lab test after 90 days to get an objective view of the results.

Since natural ingredients affect everyone differently, and citrus bergamot and red yeast rice have different mechanisms of action, if there is no significant improvement after 90 days of taking citrus bergamot, I then often recommend switching to red yeast rice.

Keep in mind that there are some people who should not take red yeast rice, including those with established liver disease. Additionally, if you are taking a prescription medication for cholesterol, you should not take red yeast rice, while citrus bergamot extract has been shown to be safe and effective for use in combination with prescription cholesterol-lowering medications and may even enhance their effectiveness.

Synergistic Health Benefits of Citrus Bergamot and Red Yeast Rice

• Cholesterol Support: Both help support LDL cholesterol and improve overall serum cholesterol.

• Cardiovascular Health: Both support heart health through various mechanisms, such as endothelial function and lipid profiles.

• Anti-inflammatory Properties: Both have properties that support inflammation response in the body.

• Antioxidant Properties: Both are rich in antioxidants that help combat oxidative stress.

Can Citrus Bergamot and Red Yeast Rice Be Taken Together?

While both citrus bergamot and red yeast rice are effective at promoting healthy cholesterol levels, each ingredient offers distinct benefits because their primary ingredients work via different mechanisms of action. Combining them can be a great option for maximum cardiovascular protection.

To learn more about utilizing supplements featuring citrus bergamot or red yeast rice, click here.