The month of February is the perfect month to discuss and become more aware of your Heart Health. Your heart is the circulatory system and is part of your muscular organs. Your circulatory system transports nutrients, oxygen, minerals, and antibodies throughout your body and cells to help them operate properly. The hearts function is to continuously pump blood throughout your body. A healthy heart is overall to good health. Embracing an overall healthy lifestyle at any age while focusing on heart health, can prevent heart disease and lower your risk for a stroke and/or heart attack. You are never too young or too old to begin taking care of your heart! Whole foods should always be the main source of nutrients; however, most people cannot be consistent with the exact amount they need to be intaking every single day, which is where vitamins and supplementation comes into play. Supplements cannot make up for unhealthy eating habits, but it can be used to help fill in the gaps to where we need it the most. Below are 5 Heart Health Supplements:

 

 

Opti-Reds

Specific compounds found in Red Superfoods including antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins help fight free radicals and oxidative stress. To neutralize these harmful, free radicals we must increase the stability of nitric oxide in the bloodstream by incorporating and utilizing Red Superfoods. This can be tough to do daily just with whole foods. A Reds Superfood powder can assist us in healthy nitric oxide levels and improving blood flow throughout the entire body. Besides improved blood flow and reduced blood pressure, Opti-Reds 50 can boost metabolism, increase energy, and reduce signs of aging! Win, Win, Win!

 

 

 

 

 

Fish Oil

The benefits of Fish oil are a lot more than just reducing inflammation. To name a few; stabilizing blood flow in and around the heart, reducing blood triglyceride levels, lowering blood pressure, preventing blood clots, and of course decrease of inflammation. The improvement of blood pressure and decrease triglycerides (unhealthy fat in your blood) increases by 30% in the body by taking Fish oils! I have been taking Fish oil ever since I have started my supplement regime. I have found these Omega-3 is the perfect EPA/ DHA ratio (which is what you must look for).

 

 

 

 

 

CoQ10

Our bodies naturally make this enzyme in small amounts and is used to produce energy in the cells for growth and maintenance. Also functioning as an antioxidant, protecting the body from damage caused by harmful molecules. CoQ10 may also help lower blood pressure, either on its own or along medications. Individuals who are on cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins, can  sometimes lower the amount of CoQ10 the body makes on its own; therefore, anyone on a statin could benefit from this supplement. CoQ10 can be found inside the Micro Factor Nutrient Packet (wish also contains Fish oil, Multi, and other essentials in our ever day regime).

L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine is looking upon as the fat burning supplement, as it does assist in metabolizing stored fat, it cannot work as a magic powder and burn fat right off the body (unfortunately no supplement can do that). What is can and does do is transport fatty acids to the cells using it as energy rather than storing it (now that is pretty cool) L-Carnitine is an amino acid needed to transport fats into the mitochondria (where fats are turned into energy). Adequate amounts of energy are essential for normal heart functioning. Proper dosage of L-Carnitine can improve heart function while reducing symptoms of angina. Hopefully, you’ll never have to experience this, but something good to know and share; L-Carnitine can help reduce damage and complications following a heart attack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magnesium

Magnesium is crucial to the body to support muscle and nerve function especially energy production.  Low levels of magnesium do not cause many symptoms in the short term, but in the long term it can be threading by diseases. Low magnesium levels can be a predictor of heart disease and have been linked to risk factors including high blood pressure/ cholesterol, arterial plaque buildup, and calcification of soft tissue. These risk factors then become an extreme issue like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. BTW read the bottle it says; “Supports Muscle Relaxation”, ditch the melatonin and try taking Magnesium before bedtime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are more supplements that can assist in heart health, but these are the most popular. These supplements listed above can help your heart function at its highest capacity, but supplements will never out do a healthy diet. Create a life where most of your nutrients come from whole foods and use supplements where you need help with the most. Vitamins & minerals are essentials where supplements fill in those gaps where needed. Remember, for supplements to work, you must be continuously with taking them every single day and the right dosage amount. As always, be sure to speak to your doctor before starting any new supplements along with your current regime including your medications.