Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, so taking care of your heart should be a priority. Stress, poor diet, genetics, and a sedentary lifestyle can all contribute to the development of heart issues, so knowing what you can do to reduce stress and eat healthier could make a big difference. It can be difficult to know where to start, but making some diet and lifestyle changes can go a long way in reducing your risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Let’s go over what heart disease is and what you can do to help reduce your risk.
Heart Disease
Heart health is a hot topic due to the increasing number of heart disease diagnoses. Heart disease refers to several conditions that are related to the heart including conditions that involve damaged or clogged arteries, a damaged or dysfunctional heart, and certain types of blood clots. Things like poor diet, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, genetics, smoking cigarettes, and several other things can contribute to the development of heart disease, but many of these things can be controlled. Your heart is one of the most important organs and without it we couldn’t live, so make heart health a priority and consider making some changes.
Prevention
You can greatly lower your risk of heart disease through better nutrition, exercise, quitting smoking, and taking certain supplements. Your diet should be focused on organic fruits and vegetables, good fats like olive oil and coconut oil, and grass-fed meats. Processed foods, trans fats and other bad fats like vegetable oil and margarine, processed meats like hot dogs, and high-sugar foods should be eliminated from your diet because these foods can increase inflammation in the arteries and throughout the body which can put extra strain on the heart and surrounding vessels. Drinking enough filtered water is also important because it may help decrease the risk of developing a blood clot.
Supplements
We have several supplements that we recommend for those wanting to improve heart health, balance cholesterol levels, and/or lower blood pressure. These include:
- Omega Supreme – Omega Supreme is a convenient omega-3 fatty acid supplement offering 1,000 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the natural, triglyceride form per soft gel.
- BP Support – BP Support is formulated to help maintain healthy blood pressure levels by enhancing endothelial cell and arterial function. Using a combination of highdose L-citrulline, quercetin and grape seed extract, this product delivers full-spectrum support to help maintain normal inflammatory balance, arterial elasticity, optimal nitric oxide levels, and blood flow.
- Quercetin Bromelain Ultra – Quercetin is a powerful bioflavonoid that protects cells and tissues against free radicals.† Bromelain, papain, and pancreatin provide a mixture of protein-specific and other enzymes that help ensure proper breakdown of protein molecules that may otherwise cause irritation.† Vitamin C, buffered with magnesium to eliminate acidity, supports histamine metabolism, detoxification processes, and collagen synthesis.†
- Active Mag – Magnesium is an essential mineral for health, strength, and longevity; it functions as the required bio-inorganic catalyst in over 350 enzyme reactions.† Magnesium is necessary for energy (ATP) production; sustaining heart health and healthy blood vessels; maintaining adequate blood flow to the brain to support healthy neurons and nerves; and for optimal skeletal muscle function.†
Heart health should not be taken lightly. There are many changes you can make that can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease like switching to a whole food diet, engaging in light exercise, quitting smoking, taking certain supplements, and reducing stress.
If you are having any heart issues you should see your doctor right away, or if you are having symptoms of a heart attack you should seek emergency medical attention. Signs of a heart attack can include pain in the jaw, neck, or left arm, dizziness, sudden fatigue, chest pain, cold sweats, heartburn, and nausea.
You can listen to our Is it an Affair of the Heart? podcast episode on here. You can also listen on our YouTube channel here.
