Here is a short post on what I feel are 3 critical vitamins that every adult should be taking to protect their cardiovascular health. Why? It’s simple. Your heart is a machine. And like every machine, if you don’t maintain it and provide it with the proper fuel to operate, eventually it will break down.
Think about that for a moment. Here we have this wonderful machine that God gave us in our chest. And most people completely ignore it and do nothing to keep it running smoothly and strongly. Yet, they’ll dutifully take the family car down for it’s new oil or it’s “regularly scheduled maintenance”.
So, it’s time for a change in thinking. This post deals with 3 nutrients vital to healthy heart function. And sadly, many people are deficient in one or all of them.
Co-Enzyme Q10 - is a powerful antioxidant and cofactor produced by the body. It is also found in trace amounts in some types of food. It’s most critical role is helping to create energy in the cell mitochondria, which is essentially the battery or furnace of every cell. It is especially vital to muscle cells which use a lot of energy compared to other types of cells. And because the heart is essentially a large muscle, Co-enzyme Q10 is vital to keep the heart working well.
Many studies have shown direct correlation between the severity of heart failure and depleted levels of coenzyme Q10. Studies also determined that in the vast majority of cases, heart functions improved when patients began taking co-enzyme Q10 in supplement form. No studies have shown adverse side effects from taking co-enzyme Q10 in any dosages. But, typical dosages range from 30 - 60 mg. per day for relatively healthy people, to 300 mg. or more per day for people with weakened hearts. This should be taken in a soft-gel, oil soluble form.
Fish Oil - this heart-boosting supplement is basically a healthy fatty acid from cold water fish such as salmon. It is primarily the Omega 3 fatty acid. Omega 6 acids are common in many foods, so that most people get more than enough. The benefits of fish oil to the body are many, including improvements in heart, brain, and skin cell function. It’s been shown to reduce inflammation, homocysteine, blood clotting, and triglycerides, among other benefits. The best dosage for most adults is 1 gram (1,000 mg). This should be taken in soft-gel, oil soluble form.
Magnesium - is a key mineral for optimal heart health. Magnesium is a cofactor used in over 300 enzyme systems, including the ones involving the cell’s main energy storage molecule - ATP. Again, because the heart is a muscle which need even more energy than other cell types, magnesium becomes very critical. Like coenzyme q10, many studies have confirmed the direct correlation between the level of congestive heart failure and magnesium deficiency. The same has been shown with cardiomyopathy patients. When magnesium supplements were taken, the vast majority of patients showed improvement in heart function - sometimes drastic.
Hope that helps your heart.
