An Integrative Approach to Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular disease is the number 1 killer of Americans in both men and women. Diet and exercise play a very large role in obtaining or maintaining heart health; regular aerobic exercise, whole foods, and a plant-based diet is recommended to improve your heart health. Alcohol, caffeine, and refined sugar impair cardiovascular health and therefore should have limited consumption. Additionally, smoking is detrimental to cardiovascular health, and it should be discontinued entirely.
Muscles in the body contract when you move. The heart is different is this respect and therefore requires a constant supply of energy that comes primarily from oxygen. The heart pumps oxygen rich blood to other parts of the body, but it first feeds itself through by way of the coronary arteries. These arteries supply blood and therefore oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle so that it can continue to contract. Atherosclerosis is the process in which these arteries become blocked or “clogged” with plaque which reduces the amount of blood that can get to the heart muscle. Once fully blocked, no blood can get to the muscle, therefore no oxygen or energy, and the muscle can no longer contract. This is referred to as a “heart attack” and if severe, it can be fatal.
Resveratrol is an antioxidant compound found in plants that include grapes, peanuts, and pistachios. It is found in high amounts in red wine which is why it is thought that red wine may have some cardioprotective properties. Research has shown that resveratrol can help improve the function of coronary arteries and therefore potentially reduce or prevent plaque in the arteries. It has also been shown to reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol which is also partly responsible for plaque formation. As an antioxidant, resveratrol can also reduce inflammation and lower c-reactive protein which is a blood test for inflammation.
Other supplements that are beneficial for cardiovascular health are CoQ10, taurine, magnesium, Hawthorne, and fish oil. Each have different mechanisms of action, and with the correct combinations and dosages it can be a very effective tool along with diet and exercise to ensure a healthy heart.
About Korey DiRoma,, N.D.Related Blog Posts
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