Heart to Health :: Health and Disease

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Heart to Health

Traditional merges with modern in this short list of herbs, nutritional supplements, and natural foods recommended by naturopathic and medical doctors, researchers, and, yes, even your dear old granny.

You’ll find all these supplements singly or in combination at your local health food store.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

A must-take heart supplement with ample research to support its use, CoQ10re-energizes the mitochondrial energy centre in heart cells and can help lower blood pressure. This powerful antioxidant, which is concentrated in the heart muscle, also inhibits the damaging effects of oxidation on low density lipids (LDL cholesterol).

Omega-3 Oils

Loaded with heart-healing essentialfatty acids, omega-3 oils from fish or flax help regulate the rhythm of the heart, prevent cardiac arrhythmias, control blood triglycerides, increase HDL (the good cholesterol), minimize inflammation and blood clotting, and keep bloodvessels elastic.

Fibre

To help lower cholesterol, fill up on foods with lots of soluble fibre such as apples, citrus fruits, beans and lentils, oats, peas, barley, carrots, and ground flaxseeds.

Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids

Good old vitamin C is good for your heart, too. Along with bioflavonoids such as hesperidin and quercetin, vitamin C protects the elastic strength of blood vessels and capillaries that help circulation. It’s also been shown to lower blood pressure in people with mild to moderate hypertension.

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha and Crataegus monogyna)

The berries of the lovely, twisting hawthorn tree provide one of the most important traditional herbal heart tonics. Used beneficially for all manner of heart problems, it is safe and nontoxic. According to renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, hawthorn can be used safely with heart medication.

Magnesium

Low levels of this essential macro mineral have been linked to heart problems, especially in people with insulin resistance. Adequate supplementation levels help regulate heartbeat and relax the smooth muscles of the heart. In combination with calcium, magnesium helps control high blood pressure.

L-carnitine

The heart depends on this aminoacid for energy metabolism. L-carnitine has been shown to help normalize irregular heartbeat and abnormal heart functioning in patients with diabetes and high blood pressure.

Niacin

Early orthomolecular physicians such as Dr. Abram Hoffer recognized the therapeutic benefits of niacin. It has been used successfully to reduce cholesterol and stimulate circulation. Nonflushing forms of niacin release more slowly and may be better tolerated.

Garlic

Daily garlic intake is one of the best ways to ensure heart health. Its complex array of phytochemicals help to lower both cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

B Vitamins

This extended family of water-soluble nutrients controls stress and metabolic functions related to heart health. Folic acid, B6, and B12 are especially important to regulating high homocysteine levels that can lead to heart disease.

Vitamin E
Considered by natural health pioneers to be the original healthy heart supplement, vitamin E in its 100 percent natural,full-spectrum form (with mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols) provides heart attack protection.

Source: alive #304, February 2008

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Understanding the Cardiovascular System
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Shopping List for a Healthy Heart

Vitamin E (100 percent natural source mixed toco.

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The Copper Connection
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Supersize Dilemma

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