Nature provides a wealth of alternative treatments for many things we take medicine for every day. A lot of time it just has to do with finding the right supplement! Cholesterol, for example, can be tackled from many angles. Whether naturally or clinically, high cholesterol drives a lot of attention (and dollars).

One natural remedy is giving big pharmaceutical companies a run for their money. Or at least it is trying to -- it's called red yeast rice and is described as the "red or purple substance released by a fungus grown on fermented rice." It has worked for the Chinese: they've been using it since 800 A.D.

This stuff creates a lot of the same ingredient that powers prescription medication (lovastatin). Research backs its effectiveness. Apparently they have been watching it lower LDL in the blood and triglycerides since the 1970s! In fact, red yeast rice contains so much statin that the FDA had three brands removed from shelves because they felt it was getting close to prescription strength. Some people think big pharma put pressure on them to reduce the competition, but they are still readily available in health outlets. If you're interested, be sure to consult your physician before taking any supplements.