Essential Supplements to Improve Your Heart’s Health

 When you take the important supplements to help your heart, it can make all the difference in the world. Of course, there is probably a 99% chance that you don’t have the information of what and how much to take from your cardiologist. Why is that?

What I’ve found is that the higher up the food chain a doctor is…meaning the more “specialized” they are, the more resistant to vitamins and supplements. For them to even consider that a vitamin could actually benefit their heart patients would negate all those expensive years in med school learning the “real truth”.

But thankfully there are a few good doctors out there that know from the extra time they have spent educating themselves that there are additional therapies that REALLY work.

I’ve mentioned in another article that I had found many emergency wards and cardiovascular centers are now using Magnesium for arrhythmias and heart attacks, which is why that nutrient is covered a little later in this article.

There is no doubt in my mind that these supplements have changed the way that I feel and affect the condition of my heart.BOB REYNOLDS

You will learn in this article:

  • What vitamins are important for your health
  • What amounts the experts suggest
  • Where to get further information

Heart Disease is Still The Number One Killer

Your heart’s health is so vital to your well-being, but even today heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States.

Look at these numbers.  Approximately 610,000 people die each year in the US from heart disease, and a total of 735,000 have a heart attack.

Even with all the people on diets, health clubs in practically every city, and all those folks jogging or bike riding, we still have Heart Disease hanging over our heads.

Granted, the lack of proper eating has changed the landscape.  Just look at people in the Mall and it’s obvious the we are just not eating as well as we used to.  Too many temptations, stress, useless carbohydrates, sugar, and it’s no wonder there is a problem.  And yes, I could definitely be place somewhere in that group…and what is disturbing…is that I know better!  I’m sure many of you are saying the same thing.

But aside from the obvious, there are ways we can help our our hearts to try to stay on top of things.

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Regardless of the type of supplements you use for your heart, we still need to be aware of the the major factors that can override these benefits, or at the very least, make the road to better health an uphill climb.

Here are some of the major factors to consider.

  • Being Overweight
  • Diabetes (insulin resistance)
  • Having a Poor Diet
  • Getting Little to No Exercise
  • Drinking Too Much Booze
  • Too Much Stress
  • Lack of Proper Sleep

The Top Supplements That Could Help Your Heart

Depending on what type of Cardiovascular Disease you have will depend on which of these nutrients to focus on first.  Some of the main categories of heart disease you might be aware of are:

  • Arrhythmias
  • Coronary Heart Disease
  • Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
  • Heart Attack
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • High Blood Pressure

There are many more variations of heart problems, but my point is, that depending on which problem you are trying to solve, might change the priority of the supplements you try.

Aside from Supplements, you might also want to combine integrative or complementary medicine protocols such as EDTA Chelation Therapy that I explain in another article.  It was something I’m glad I found out about as it really helped my health issues.

I’m also probably stating the obvious to many people.  At the end of the day, there is only so much money to go around.  If you are fortunate enough that you can supplement your diets with everything on the list…great.  But I would imagine many of you will have only so much to budget, so my advice is to buy the most useful supplement to get the most “bang for your buck”.

For this reason, I’ve tried to list the most important nutrients first, then give an honorable mention to the other things you could add to help make a difference.  And, to help you categorize this list of supplements experts suggest the following:

Supplements for General Heart Conditions

  • Carnitine
  • CoQ10
  • D-Ribose
  • Magnesium

Supplements for Arrhythmias

  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Taurine
  • CoQ10
  • Carnitine
  • Ribose
Heart Arrhythmias Can Benefit From the Right Supplements
ECG chart with Stethoscope

CoQ10

Coenzyme Q10 is one of those nutrients that our bodies can make, but as we get older our levels of this important substance diminishes.

CoQ10 function is to provide energy to every cell in our bodies, especially the heart.  It has had marvelous results helping patients with Congestive Heart Failure, and in 1974 Japan approved its use for this reason.  In fact, by 1982 Co Enzyme Q10 had become one of their top five medications.

When looking for a good quality CoQ10 supplement you should seek to purchase Ubiquinol as it is the preferred form of this nutrient.

L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine is often thought of as an amino acid, but in actuality it is technically a different substance.  Nevertheless, it is another of the energy producing nutrients that help the body transport fatty acids into our mitochondria.

Your heart loves L-Carnitine and is helpful in removing toxins, namely lactic acid from heavy exercise.  It is also helpful in removing excess ammonia from the body.

When taking this supplement try dividing the dose 2-3 times per day for better results.

D-Ribose

D-Ribose is another one of those nutrients that are important for energy production.  Although it is a simple sugar, D-Ribose does not act nor is metabolized the same way as other sugars.  Instead it is needed to make ATP which is the what cells in the body use for energy.

When cells, particularly heart cells are under stress of have had a lower than optimal level of oxygen they need extra D-Ribose.

One double blind study with patients having Congestive Heart failure found measurable results with D-Ribose as pointed out by renowned Integrative Cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra.

A recommended dose of D-Ribose is 5 grams (powdered) 2 to 3 times per day.

Magnesium

For me, Magnesium is something I know makes a big difference in my Atrial Fibrillation, and would not go without it.  I can really feel when I’m not taking enough, especially in times of high stress or the reaction of triggers of my AFib.

This essential mineral is used in over 300 processes in our bodies and unfortunately most of us are Magnesium deficient, as I point out in my article “The Top 5 Supplements For Optimal Health”.  We just are not eating well like we used to and many foods do not contain the same nutrients that our grandparents were getting.

Studies have show that Magnesium is very important to reduce Risk of Death From Coronary Heart Disease and Sudden Cardiac Death and is why more and more hospitals have Magnesium IVs ready to treat cardiac patients in the Emergency Room, something I’ve had the unfortunate pleasure to experience more than once.

Your best form to take is Magnesium Glycinate and the worse form would be Magnesium Oxide due to poor absorption.

The recommended dose of Magnesium could be as high as 600-800 mg per day in divided doses.  As always, with all of these supplements, get the guidance from a Integrative Doctor, Certified Nutritionist, or Naturopath.

Magnesium and Potassium Work Together to Support Your Heart
Magnesium tablet held in someones hand

Potassium

Potassium, a mineral and electrolyte is yet another of those essential nutrients for heart health, and is probably one of the most overlooked nutrients in our daily diet.

I used to believe for a long time that you didn’t need much, as Doctors would warn of serious outcomes if you took too much.  Add to that the restriction of Potassium pills to usually 99mg and it’s hard not to come up with that conclusion.  I even remember Doctors prescribing just a minuscule 99mg per day to my own mother and other friends when diagnosed through blood test that they were low in this mineral.

Look up the Daily Recommendations and you will find that it to be 4,700 mg per day.  Now you don’t have to be a mathematician to figure out that taking 99mg is pretty much doing nothing.  Then take the time to figure out just how much food you would need to get enough Potassium, and the amounts are staggering.  By the way a glass of Low Sodium V-8 juice has over 500mg of Potassium, which is one of the great quick sources of this mineral.

Potassium and Magnesium go hand in hand, but for optimal results Doctors will recommend getting your Magnesium levels up first, then adding Potassium to your daily routine.

When looking to supplement Potassium, try to find Potassium Gluconate, a better form of this nutrient.

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid and has many benefits such as:

  • Protection Against Heart Attack Damage
  • Lowers Blood Pressure
  • Prevents Arrhythmias
  • Improves Muscle Strength
  • Support For The Nervous System
  • Helps Immune System Health

Taurine also helps strengthen the heart muscle, plays a role in your heart’s contraction, and may help Arrhythmias.  It also helps both Potassium and Magnesium stay in our cells to do what they do best.

Daily recommendations can be between 1 and 4 grams depending on the advice of your Doctor.

Taurine in Powdered Form Can Be Mixed With Juice or Water
Powdered Taurine on a table with a scoop for measuring

Other Supplements To Consider For Your Heart

You should first consider the top six supplements above when dealing with heart problems, as these are a mix of what the top Doctors are recommending as the most effective with heart disease.

But there are a few more important supplements you could add to the top six to construct a more comprehensive daily routine in your quest for optimal heart health.  The benefits from these fall into certain categories such as improving heart function, reducing inflammation, and helping improve Cholesterol levels.

Here are some more supplements you could consider.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)

Fish Oil is one of the more well-known supplements that many have tried or are currently taking.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids are known to:

  • Help Prevent Arrhythmias
  • Reduce Blood Clotting
  • Decreases Risk of Stroke
  • Lowers Blood Pressure

Hawthorne

Hawthorn is a plant in the rose family and its fruit, leaves, and flowers all can be used, but the Hawthorn Berry produces the most benefits.

Benefits include:

  • Strengthens Heart Contractions
  • Lowers Blood Pressure
  • Decreases Inflammation
  • May Reduce Bad Cholesterol
  • Anti-oxidant Properties

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is well known for helping with colds and the immune system, but there are also benefits for the heart that have been found.  There have been studies showing how Vitamin C keeps the lining of the arteries in good shape, preventing damage and build-up of plaque.

A study that showed that continual lack of Vitamin C would damage damage blood vessels was done by two-time Nobel Laureate Dr. Linus Pauling who has done extensive research into this nutrient, along with  Dr. Rath. (M. Rath, L. Pauling, Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 87, pp. 6204-6207, 1990)

Vitamin C Benefits Include:

  • Powerful Antioxidant
  • Reduces Heart Disease Risk
  • Helps Absorb Iron
  • Helps White Cells Function Better
  • May Help With Blood Pressure
  • Assists in Collagen Production

Garlic

Everyone has heard of Garlic and for many, it’s their favorite herb to add to their food recipes.  We can eat garlic for it’s benefits, but risk offending our spouses and friends due to the potent effects on the breath!  A more sensible solution is to supplement this nutrient.

Garlic May Help:

  • High Blood Pressure
  • High Cholesterol
  • Coronary Heart Disease
  • Anti-viral and Anti-Bacterial Properties
  • Helps Fungal Infections

Lycopene

Lycopene is an antioxidant contained in red or pink colored vegetables.  Evidence indicates that Lycopene reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer. Found naturally in tomatoes, it is available in concentration from supplements.

Conditions That May Benefit From Lycopene:

  • Heart Disease
  • Vascular Health
  • Blood Pressure Problems
  • Prostrate Health
  • Osteoporosis

Folic Acid – B6 – B12

These water-soluble B Vitamins have many functions.  One benefit that all three share in common is the assistance to lower Homocysteine levels in your body.  High levels of Homocysteine can lead to damage to the arterial wall and therefore produce a build-up of plaque.

Curcumin

Curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice Turmeric, may have a protective role of in cardiovascular diseases. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19233493)  Many studies also suggest improvements to endothelial disfunction, which regulates blood pressure and blood clotting.  It has been seen to have an effect on Heart Failure, protects the arteries from fatty build-up, and is a natural anti-inflammatory.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is also an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compound found in red wine, the skin of red grapes, berries and peanuts.

Some Benefits of Resveratrol:

  • Reduces The Risk of Heart Disease
  • Helps Lower LDL The Bad Cholesterol
  • Has Anti-oxidant properties and Fights Infection
  • May Help With Insulin Resistance

Conclusion

You can see that there are many supplements that may help with heart disease. And as I stated at the beginning, in a perfect world, one might take most if not all of the above. Unfortunately, this all comes with a cost. To purchase each and every supplement listed here for just one month would be unfeasible to many if not most people.


You must prioritize. Work with your Doctor, Nutritionist, or Naturopath to tailor your supplements in order of most importance for your particular condition. For me it’s Magnesium, CoQ10, and now Potassium. Even if you can only budget one supplement per month, choose the one that will help you the most. Something is better than nothing.

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