How to support your heart and cardiovascular health naturally
Nutrition and exercise are two essential ways to optimise your cardiovascular and circulatory health. Eating a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise and avoiding smoking can all help to support heart health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Essential fatty acids for heart health
A regular diet of fish (and ideally oily fish) is important for heart health due to the EPA and DHA fatty acid content of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. Omega-3 fatty acids, at the appropriate dose, contribute to the maintenance of normal blood pressure, blood triglyceride levels (a type of fat found in the blood) and the normal function of your heart.
Whether or not you regularly eat fish, are vegetarian or vegan, or are concerned about ocean pollution and the quality of the fish you eat, supplementing with an essential fatty acid is an excellent way to support your cardiovascular health.,
We have a range of clean and stable essential fatty acid supplements to suit everyone, including an Omega 3 Vegan from a vegan algae source. You can choose from capsules or liquid. We’ve even combined omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA with heart protective plant antioxidants in our Omega Protect + CoQ10.
Heart health and homocysteine
Another important consideration for heart health is homocysteine, an amino acid which is produced by the body as part of a process called methylation. One of the consequences of this cycle not working properly is raised homocysteine, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (and cognitive decline). The B vitamins folic acid, B6, and B12 support the normal metabolism and 'recycling' of homocysteine and so reduce the likelihood of raised levels.
The importance of CoQ10 for your heart
Coenzyme Q10 (commonly referred to as CoQ10) is a vitamin-like substance found in virtually every cell in our body! CoQ10 is a vital part of all energy production in the mitochondria; the power houses of our cells. Our heart muscles are permanently active and therefore use significant quantities of CoQ10.
CoQ10 can become seriously depleted as we get older, and maintaining suitable levels is even more necessary for those taking statin medication, as these drugs can inhibit the body's natural production.
CoQ10 is an important antioxidant, protecting the body from free radicals and consequent cell damage.
We offer a range of supplements containing this important heart health nutrient, such as our CoQ10 Multi, an all-encompassing high potency vitamin and mineral supplement with optimum levels of nutrients for heart and cardiovascular health, including the B Vitamins, vitamins C, E and K2. It is also included in our Omega Protect, a heart health supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids combined with protective plant antioxidants.
Further ways to support your heart and circulatory system
Maintain a healthy bood pressure
Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise and physical activity, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, managing stress levels and adopting a good quality diet have all been found to have a beneficial effect on lowering blood pressure.
We have a range of supplements that can support healthy blood pressure, including our range of Omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, vitamins C and D and magnesium, available as a gentle and effective food form supplement.
Look after your cholesterol levels
Nutritional and lifestyle approaches to support healthy cholesterol levels include a healthy diet with plenty of fibre, plant sterols from foods such as vegetables, olive oil, nuts, seeds and legumes and a good level of healthy fats.
A supplement from our heart-healthy omega-3 range can also be supportive. Our Red Rice Yeast Plus can contribute to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels.
Balance your blood sugar
Balanced blood sugar levels are important for our overall health and wellbeing. You can help this by reducing sugar and refined carbohydrates in your diet and make sure you are including plenty of sources of fibre, healthy protein, and healthy fats.
Nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids can also support healthy blood sugar balance. Our Blood Glucose Support is a multi-mineral supplement with nutrients including cinnamon and GTF chromium, formulated to support the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels. We recently added Gymnema Sylvestre to our range, an ancient herb that has been used to manage sugar cravings and balance blood sugar levels.
What are the best supplements for heart health?
As there are several nutrients that can support heart health, we recommend bridging the nutrition gap with a high quality bioeffective multi vitamin and mineral in a food-based form. Our CoQ10 multi is the recommended supplement to support heart health as it is an all-encompassing, high potency vitamin and mineral supplement with great levels of nutrients that can support heart and cardiovascular health, including the B Vitamins, vitamins C, E and K2. It also provides a great level of CoQ10; a heart supporting nutrient that can be particularly supportive to support the heart health of those over the age of 50 or taking statin medication.
The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, at the appropriate dose, contribute to the maintenance of normal blood pressure, blood triglyceride levels and normal function of the heart. These can be obtained in the diet, mainly through oily fish, but if you don't regularly eat fish, are vegetarian or vegan, or maybe you are concerned about the quality of the fish you eat and ocean pollution, you may benefit from taking an omega-3 supplement to support your heart health. We offer omega-3 supplements as either capsules or liquid, including some from vegan algae sources.
What supplement can I take to improve my circulation?
Your circulatory system pumps oxygenated blood around your body via your blood vessels and delivers it to the brain and other tissues whilst removing waste products, then back to your lungs to pick up more oxygen. Proper blood circulation around the whole body is key to health and wellness, and dietary and lifestyle factors, as well as several key nutrients can support and improve blood flow.
A healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats is advised to support healthy circulation and heart health, whilst maintaining a healthy weight and regular physical activity, staying well hydrated, managing stress levels and stopping smoking, if applicable.
Cytoprotect Cardiovascular Health is a powerful, targeted formula, specifically tailored to support circulation and heart health. It incorporates the amino acids Citrulline and Cysteine along with high levels of botanicals and natural plant antioxidants. The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, found in oily fish or as a supplement, can also be supportive for healthy circulation.
