In the late 1970s, Japanese scientist Akira Endo was searching for natural compounds that could reduce cholesterol production in the body.

He found that certain fungi produced molecules that inhibited a key enzyme the liver uses to make cholesterol.

In 1979, Endo and his team isolated monacolin K from a fungus found in red yeast rice to make cholesterol medications.

However, there was a problem...

It was natural, so it cannot be patented...

So anyone can sell it.

No monopoly for big pharma.

Pharma companies took the natural template and:

• Patented purified forms.
• Modified the structure to create new, patentable drugs.
• Pushed these drugs through clinical trials to secure regulatory approval.

This turned a centuries-old natural remedy (red yeast rice in Chinese medicine) into a multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical class.

But at least you can buy the natural version, right?

Well...

Regulatory agencies (like the FDA and EFSA) often classify supplements with significant monacolin K as unlicensed statins, meaning they fall under drug regulation, not supplements.

So even then, they cannot be sold.

Luckily, the UK has not done this (yet).

No doubt it will be right around the corner, which is why you should take action now.

Before they ban it in the UK, too.

✅ Summary: Big Pharma didn’t “invent” statins from scratch — they copied and modified monacolin K, a natural compound from red yeast rice, to create patentable drugs like lovastatin. This process of taking a natural molecule and making drug derivatives is very common in pharma (penicillin, aspirin, paclitaxel, etc. follow similar stories).

But Not All Cholesterol Is Bad

Cholesterol is essential: it’s used to build cell membranes, hormones, and vitamin D.

The problem arises when there’s too much “bad” cholesterol (LDL) in the bloodstream.

Excess LDL cholesterol seeps into artery walls.

White blood cells rush in to “clean it up,” but this creates fatty deposits called plaques.

This causes barrowing of Arteries (Atherosclerosis)

Plaques harden and thicken arteries, restricting blood flow.

This forces the heart to pump harder, straining the cardiovascular system.

So what can you do?

Lowering cholesterol is one of the most direct ways to reduce cardiovascular risk. Here’s how it helps.

🧱 Less plaque build-up – fewer “bricks” of cholesterol clogging your arteries

🛡 Stabilizes arteries – plaques are less likely to rupture and cause heart attacks

💨 Better blood flow – arteries stay flexible and elastic, making circulation smoother

🔥 Lower inflammation – reduces hidden stress inside blood vessels

📉 Proven risk reduction – every drop in LDL lowers risk of heart attack and stroke