Q&A #55: Red Yeast Rice vs. Statins—Cholesterol, Diabetes Risk, & Supplement Contamination

        *   00:00:00 - Beginning of Q&A
*   00:00:13 - **Q:** Is berberine a mitochondrial toxin? [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25072399/),[2](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1208/s12249-011-9632-z),[3](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149291823004290),[4](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022316623725443),[5](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711323000740),[6](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1187718/full)
*   00:04:49 - **Q:** Is higher iodine intake than the RDA beneficial for thyroid function and breast cancer prevention? [1](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/2156587211414424),[2](https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-Consumer/),[3](https://www.thyroid.org/ata-statement-on-the-potential-risks-of-excess-iodine-ingestion-and-exposure/),[4](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9459956/),[5](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18578621/),[6](https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/4/3393),[7](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3976240/)
*   00:16:46 - **Q:**  What is the effectiveness of red yeast rice supplements in lowering ApoB levels? [1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10221652/),[2](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043661819303172),[3](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.744928/full),[4](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871402119303996),[5](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.819482/full),[6](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711323000740),[7](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.937809/full),[8](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-59796-5),[9](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.744928/full),[10](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27277934/),[11](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40001-018-0353-6),[12](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28641460/),[13](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/226109)
*   00:40:19 - **Q:** How does my daily supplement regimen compare to Peter Attia's recommendations? [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33461470/) 
*   00:54:03 - **Q:** What are the ingredients in Rhonda's latest smoothie recipe?
*   00:55:46 - **Q:** What do you think about the role of SGLT2 inhibitors in slowing down aging? [1](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41569-020-0406-8),[2](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01429-5/fulltext),[3](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37455561/),[4](https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/140019),[5](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2042098621989134),[6](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5106000/)
*   01:00:28 - **Q:** What are the effects of astaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin on cardiovascular and brain health, and do they have unique or overlapping benefits? [1](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523121526),[2](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1098882322000818),[3](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043661820314213),[4](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2021.1925870),[5](https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/82/1/34/7140401),[6](https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/4/827),[7](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25408222/),[8](https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/3/617),[9](https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/19/5794)
*   01:03:59 - **Q:** Is long-term berberine use safe given its acetylcholinesterase inhibition and potential Alzheimer's risk? [1](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1002007109002883),[2](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15190239/)
*   01:06:45 - **Q:** What are the known health benefits of regular blood donation, including its effects on toxin removal and blood production? [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35606245/),[2](https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011647.pub2/full)
*   01:07:44 - **Q:** What are key features to consider in cookware, and which products best fulfill these features?
*   01:08:16 - **Q:** What does current research say about the effectiveness and value of red light therapy (photobiomodulation) helmets for brain health? [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26989758/) 
*   01:09:37 - **Q:** Are there any concerns about taking choline supplements and TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) production? [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33533968/)
*   01:10:34 - **Q:** What are the guidelines for rehydration and electrolyte replacement after frequent sauna use? [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17172008/)
*   01:11:41 - **Q:** What are the key recommendations for home sauna use, including type, brand, safety, optimal timing, and installation location? [1](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556521002916)
*   01:13:32 - **Q:** What are your thoughts on EWOT systems for brain oxygenation and Alzheimer's prevention, as recommended by Dr. Dale Bredesen?
*   01:13:53 - **Q:** Is it better to choose products with real sugar or those with artificial sweeteners like acesulfame-K, aspartame, and sucralose? [1](https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/81/7/758/6827512)
*   01:15:54 - **Q:** What does current research indicate about the risk of liver damage from curcumin supplements and their safety when used with statins? [1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6144106/),[2](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002934322007409)
*   01:18:08 - **Q:** Will the genetic report be updated?
*   01:19:15 - **Q:** Is there evidence that resveratrol decreases brain mass, as claimed by Dr. Greger? [1](https://jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12974-016-0779-0)
*   01:19:56 - **Q:** Do protein supplements spike insulin similar to white bread? [1](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12944-020-01384-7)
*   01:22:40 - **Q:** How does Rhonda take her electrolyte supplement? [1](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523067370)
*   01:23:00 - **Q:** Is consuming moringa powder in a smoothie while breastfeeding or during pregnancy safe? [1](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.6475)
*   01:23:38 - **Q:** Why do you prefer electric vs. infrared saunas? [1](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02656736.2021.1991010)
*   01:25:19 - **Q:** Does consistent exercise eliminate the need for sauna use? [1](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306987708006518),[2](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556521002916)
*   01:30:34 - **Q:** How to avoid negative impact of sauna on sperm quality? [1](https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/28/4/877/653255)