In this article about five supplements for a strong heart: Happy Valentine’s Day! Not only is February 14th the day of love, but in America, February is also National Heart Month. Heart diseases are the number one cause of death worldwide for both men and women. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to prevent heart diseases. In addition to exercising enough and maintaining a healthy diet, certain substances are beneficial for a strong cardiovascular system. Supplements for the prevention of heart and vascular diseases are booming business, which automatically means that there are many products on the market claiming health benefits. But which supplements really work? We have listed the proven supplements for you.
Five supplements for a strong heart explained
Nitrate
Nitrate is a substance that naturally occurs in many vegetables such as beets, cabbage, endive, and spinach. It was once considered a toxic substance, but is no longer seen as risky. Research even shows that a diet rich in (nitrate-rich) vegetables reduces the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. So eat your veggies!
Garlic
Another product often mentioned for the prevention of heart and vascular diseases is garlic. This is due to the hydrogen sulfide it contains. A higher amount of hydrogen sulfide in your body ensures good condition of your blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Another study even showed that when a group of people with elevated cholesterol consistently consumed garlic for at least two months, the total amount of cholesterol in the body significantly decreased. Garlic is therefore seen as a cheap and simple way to maintain important parameters for a well-functioning heart, such as your blood vessels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Vitamin K2
Healthy blood vessels are flexible blood vessels. When arteriosclerosis occurs, calcium attaches to the walls of your blood vessels, causing them to become stiff and harden. Due to arteriosclerosis, the blood vessels narrow, a common cause of a heart attack. Vitamin K2, which is found in egg yolk, is one of the few substances that seems to reduce arteriosclerosis. Vitamin K can be divided into three groups. K1 plays an important role in blood clotting, K2 is responsible for regulating calcium, and K3 is a synthetic provitamin that is not used in food and supplementation because it can harm health. When you eat enough vegetables (especially green leafy vegetables), you get enough vitamin K1. K2 is not found in large amounts in food, so it is advisable to supplement vitamin K2 to promote a healthy cardiovascular system.
Berberine
Insulin resistance means that your body no longer responds well to insulin, causing blood sugar levels to remain unbalanced. This can be caused by overweight, smoking, lack of exercise, and stress. Increased sugar in the blood can damage vascular tissue and lead to higher blood pressure. The substance berberine is an activator that helps convert glucose into usable energy. Berberine thus helps keep blood sugar levels balanced and is definitely recommended to supplement when you have weakened glucose regulation.
Taurine
Taurine is an essential amino acid found in the vascular tissue of the heart and helps maintain a regular heartbeat. Under healthy conditions, the body produces enough taurine on its own. Research in patients with heart failure has shown that supplementing with taurine can improve heart functions. Other studies suggest that taurine supplementation may lead to a reduction in blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Therefore, taurine supplementation is particularly interesting if you are dealing with cardiovascular issues.
Absolutely great!
In short, in addition to sufficient exercise and a healthy diet, certain substances can contribute to a strong cardiovascular system. Supplementing with Vitamin K2 and Berberine can help in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. If you are already dealing with, for example, high blood pressure, taurine can help with this. If you have questions about this supplementation, you can ask us, and if you are already seeing a doctor for heart problems, you should always discuss this. Want to start building a strong heart now? Then make sure to eat plenty of nitrate-rich vegetables and incorporate garlic into your meals!
Source: examine.com
Also read: 5 breakfasts with more than 25 grams of protein · more articles on our blog · personal training at Daadkracht.
