There are so many vitamins and minerals out there that, without a little help, it can be hard to narrow it down and know which ones are best for supporting heart health. Keep reading to learn about 5 different minerals and vitamins for heart health.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids help support a healthy-functioning heart. It can be difficult to get enough Omega-3 in your diet since our bodies don’t naturally produce these types of fatty acids. If you’re not getting enough Omega-3 in your diet alone, MegaRed® Omega-3 Krill Oil can help provide you with essential nutrients to help support your heart.

Vitamin D

More and more studies are pointing to the fact that a Vitamin D deficiency can put one at risk. Vitamin D is actually produced by the body, more so when you are out in sunlight, and helps to regulate blood pressure. However, factors like getting less exposure to sunlight, obesity and age can lead to a deficiency. Many turn to supplements, such as MegaRed® Super Heart™ to get their daily allotment of Vitamin D.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral found naturally in dark green vegetables, nuts and whole grains, among other foods. A deficiency of Magnesium has been linked by certain studies to higher blood pressure and an. To get your daily value of magnesium, explore supplement options, or focus on eating magnesium-rich foods like raw spinach, soybeans, avocados and even dark chocolate.

CoQ10

While technically an enzyme, CoQ10 works hand in hand with vitamins in the body, and more studies are showing it may be a helpful ingredient in. It can be found naturally in the highest concentration in most meats, as well as soybean products and certain nuts. The relatively low concentration of CoQ10 in commonly eaten foods, however, means that it may be necessary to take a supplement to get enough CoQ10.

Folic Acid

Folic Acid often referred to as Vitamin B9, is another one of the many possible vitamins for heart health. This vitamin helps to regulate the amount of homocysteine, an amino acid associated with a possible risk for blood clots, found in the bloodstream. Natural sources high in Vitamin B9 include broccoli, lentils, brussels sprouts and asparagus.

Potassium

Potassium has long been known to regulate blood pressure levels. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help you reach the recommended daily value of potassium, which, according to the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine, is 4,700 mg of potassium. While bananas are often said to be high in potassium, potatoes actually have about twice as much potassium in the typical serving. Potassium may also be obtained in supplement form.

Looking for an all-natural way to help support healthy cholesterol levels? You can augment a healthy regimen of diet and exercise with herbs to support healthy levels of cholesterol. Learn more about the herbs and supplements you can use to support healthy cholesterol levels and support your heart health with a list of our favorites.

Ginseng

Ginseng is an herb that has been used in Asian medicine for centuries, typically mixed with other herbs. Folk medicine used ginseng to treat a variety of ailments and support heart health. These days, ginseng root is sold in capsules and many popular products – green teas, coffees, and even energy drinks. Some studies show that ginseng may support healthy levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and "good" HDL cholesterol.[1]

Artichoke leaf extract

Like ginseng, artichoke leaf extract has long been used throughout history in medicine, and one of its most popular uses is as an aid in supporting healthy cholesterol. In several clinical trials, artichoke leaf extract has shown an impact on supporting healthy levels of “bad” LDL and total cholesterol.[2][3][HB1]  Researchers have struggled to replicate the most promising numbers seen in studies, but the findings are encouraging – artichoke leaf extract may be one of the best herbs to support healthy levels of cholesterol that’s out there on the market.

Flaxseed

Though not an herb, flaxseed is one of those wonder foods that is touted to help against many serious conditions, including heart disease. Flaxseed may support healthy cholesterol levels and overall heart health.[4] You can find flaxseed at the grocery store in ground form or alongside many other herbs in the supplement aisle.

Astragalus

Astagalus has been used in combination with other herbs to fight diseases for thousands of years in Chinese medicine. Its main use is to support the immune system, but as an antioxidant, it can also support heart health – people with heart health issues may use astragalus to support healthy cholesterol levels and the overall functioning of their hearts.[5]

Hawthorn

The hawthorn berry plant has been a part of ancient medicine across the world, including Europe, the Americas, and China. Both the berry and leaves are edible, and people can use the entire plant for its health benefits. Hawthorn has antioxidant properties similar to astragalus, which help to support the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Research suggests that hawthorn can support healthy levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (these are fats in the blood – your doctor measures your level of triglycerides when they perform a cholesterol blood test).[6]

Perhaps the best thing that you can do to improve your cardiovascular health is to get up and get moving. In order to improve your total heart health, the Surgeon General recommends that you get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week. If those sound like big numbers to fit into a busy week, a closer look at both the benefits of exercise and the ways in which you can fit physical activity into your week will show that the decision to add regular exercise to your life should be a no-brainer.

Exercise and cardiovascular health—that is, good cardiovascular health—go hand in hand. Getting adequate exercise on a regular basis can have a positive effect on just about all of the major risk factors for heart disease. Research has shown that exercise can:

• Reduce blood pressure
• Reduce body weight
• Reduce bad cholesterol (LDL)
• Increase good cholesterol (HDL)

What’s the sum total of these effects? Exercise allows you to live a longer life, plain and simple. According to a six-year study of middle-aged men published in Circulation in 2011, maintaining and improving your fitness levels is associated with a significantly lower risk of death from any cause (15%) and death from cardiovascular disease (19%). American Health Association figures describe exercise as possibly lower the risk of heart disease in women by as much as 30-40%.

Now that the reasons you should exercise are clear, how do you fit those minutes into your week? One easy way is to break it up. If, on a particular day, you can’t find at least a full half-hour of time all at once, break it up into short segments of sustained exercise that you perform throughout the day. It’s as simple as going for a brisk, 10-minute walk after each meal!

If you’re looking for a way to fit vigorous exercise into your schedule, try interval training. Interval training is the practice of repeating short, high-intensity bouts followed by rest periods of moderate intensity. For instance, if you work out on an exercise bike, warm up for about 10 minutes, then pick up the pace and ride at a near-sprint for 30 seconds. Follow this sprint with an easy-to-moderate recovery pace for 90 seconds (two minutes is okay, too, if you need more time). If you’re more of a walker than a biker, try adding small segments of jogging or power walking into your usual walk. Interval training is that easy.

As always, you should consult your doctor before adding regular exercise to your life. But, now that you know the incredible benefits that it can provide, get in touch with your doctor soon so that you can get moving right away and in the way that’s right for you.