Heart Attack Supplements

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Heart Attack Supplements - Why take them?

While a healthy diet along with regular physical activity is the cornerstone of preventing cardiovascular disease, several nutrients have been found to lower risk.

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While you should aim to consume a cardio-protective diet chockablock with fruit and veg and their protective vitamins, minerals and bioflavonoids along with a modicum of healthy fats; supplements can be a valuable back up as well as useful tool when diet alone proves insufficient.

 

Heart Attack Supplements – The important players when it comes to heart health.

• Coenzyme Q10 (also known as ubiquinone or Co Q10) is a powerful cardio- protective antioxidant. It helps prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol that can lead to formation of arthrosclerosis; lower blood pressure and reduce the incidence of dying from heart attack.

• Omega 3s from cold water fish, seeds and nuts routinely are deficient in our Western diet. A fish oil supplement containing EPA and DHA is a heart protective move.

• Magnesium is an oft deficient mineral involved in muscle contraction, nerve conduction as well as vascular tone. A deficiency can predispose someone to high blood pressure, artery constriction and heart attack.

• Vitamin C is an antioxidant important for preventing oxidation of HDL cholesterol; as well as helping form healthy intercellular matrix an important factor in healthy blood vessels.

• B Vitamins, namely Niacin (Vitamin B3), folic acid and Vitamin B12 have been found to lower homocysteine levels. Homo-cysteine is an amino acid associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk including high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

• Potassium – While you can generally get enough potassium if you include seafood and fruits and vegetables regularly in your diet, supplements can be a useful alternative. Potassium helps lower blood and may directly protect the heart.

• Hawthorn – a flowering plant endemic to Europe and North America has been taken for centuries for its heart protective effects. It’s thought to function as an anti-oxidant, protecting cholesterol from being damaged as well as strengthening heartbeat.

Heart Attack Supplements – Some specific cautions when it comes to heart supplements 

The skinny on Calcium

Previously, some doctors recommended supplemental calcium in the roster of heart attack supplements. This was because of calcium’s ability to relax muscle including the heart and those surrounding arteries. Indeed, a high dietary calcium intake is associated with decreased cardiovascular disease risk.  However, calcium’s role as a heart attack supplements is mixed and you should be careful in supplementing in the case of heart problems.

Several studies have indicated that calcium supplements increase the risk for heart attack and possibly stroke. Some experts theorize that too much calcium at once as happens when taking a mega dose supplement can dispose a person to heart attack. It is theorized that taking small dose of calcium supplements well-spaced is a better option when it comes to cardiovascular disease than taking any mega dose at one time.

These studies deal solely with calcium supplements and not dietary calcium in which high levels remain associated with improved cardiovascular health.

Press here for more on this discussion of supplemental calcium and heart health.

 

The low down on vitamin E

While Vitamin E is an important nutrient for heart health, its role as a heart supplement has been mixed. Some studies have suggested that supplemental vitamin E can increase heart attack risk; while other studies suggest it is heart protective.

To explain the contradictory evidence for vitamin E as a heart attack supplement, some experts believe that vitamin E can become an oxidant if not consumed with sufficient vitamin C or coenzyme Q10 that can reload vitamin E.

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