When people ask what is the most important organ in our body, the choice could be between the heart or brain. Some would answer brain, while others insist it’s the heart. Those who answered brain have the contention that the brain provides the instruction for the heart to pump blood; therefore it is the most essential. But those who insist it is the heart rationalizes that heart pumps blood into the brain providing the brain the oxygen it needs to function properly. While both arguments are correct, and while it is hard to determine which of the organs is really the master organ, it is important for you to protect all of them. In the case of the heart, considering that its function is to pump oxygenated blood into the various organs of the body, it is highly important to protect its health.

Although some people are more predisposed to heart ailments due to genetics, they have more reason for them to protect their ticker. Heart is composed of four chambers that receive unoxygenated blood from various parts of the bodies, pump it into the lungs for oxygenation process and pump the oxygenated blood into the various parts of the body and into itself. The heart should be pumping regularly, or else, the organs, especially the heart itself, will be compromised. In order for the heart to be healthy, diet should be nutritious and lifestyle should be healthier. But you can also support your heart’s health by taking supplements to prevent diseases of one of the more important organs in our body.

1. Psyllium

   Psyllium is a plant of the genus Plantago. The seeds of psyllium are being used to treat several conditions, such as constipation, diabetes, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. These seeds are rich in fiber and mucilage. Having high amounts of fiber and mucilage makes psyllium good for the heart, as it helps lower the body’s blood pressure and its cholesterol levels. This claim is evidenced in the research made by the University of Michigan Health System and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1999. In another research which was published in 1997 Journal of Nutrition, it shows that those who include psyllium in their daily cereals have reduction in their total cholesterol and LDL levels, but their HDL remains the same. Added to these evidences is the 2001 article in Hypertension, which showed that individuals who are categorized as overweight and have established hypertension have lowered their blood pressure levels when they took psyllium supplements, and in Cardiology Review journal, a study that was conducted in 2007 has proven a link between taking psyllium and reduction of risks in heart ailments as well as other cardiovascular diseases.

2. Policosanol

   Policosanol is processed from the coating of sugar cane. Other sources of policosanol are rice, wheat germ, beeswax and bran. In previous studies made in Cuba, policosanol has shown to reduce the cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides in the body. For years, policosanol is likened to statin drugs, which can also lower the cholesterol levels. But recent studies conducted in the University of Cologne in Germany have shown that there is no significant reduction of cholesterol and other lipids can be drawn from policosanol. Although there may be reduction to some, they are not enough proof for its effectiveness, especially to white people. Further studies are still being made to show policosanol’s benefits to the heart. While there are no published negative effects of the drugs, considering it as part of the heart supplements may not really be that harmless.

3. Vitamin B

   In a research published in Cochrane Systematic Review in 2009, the scientists claimed that taking supplements of Vitamin B do not have any significant effects in the reduction of mortality related to heart attack and other complications brought about by cardiovascular diseases. However, in 2010, another study was conducted by Japanese researchers and was published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association showing that those individuals who are eating foods rich in vitamin B6 and B9, or pyridoxine and folate, respectively, have lowered their risk of death associated to heart ailments, particularly in women, and they have reduced the risk for mean to develop heart failure. Vitamin B12, on the other hand, has no significant effect in protecting the heart. Vitamins B6 and B9 lowers the homocysteine levels, which can then lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and its complications.

4. Garlic

   For years, garlic has proven to have cardioprotective benefits. Garlic is considered a vegetable and it comes from the Allium family. Garlic has several health benefits apart from its capacity to protect the heart. This pungent vegetable is also an anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, it can prevent cancer and for those having problems with iron metabolism, eating garlic can improve it by increasing the protein that enables iron to enter and leave the cells. As a heart supplement, garlic lowers the total blood cholesterol and the triglyceride levels of the body by 5 to 15 percent. But this is not what makes garlic a champion for the heart.

   Garlic is very rich in antioxidants that protect the cells of the blood and the blood vessels from inflammation and oxidative stress. When the products of oxidative stress, called free radicals, attack the blood vessels, the functions of the heart is affected since it increases the chances of developing narrowed blood vessels. All the components of garlic that contains sulfur, such as allicin, allyl polysulfides, N-acetylcesteine, S-ethylcesteine and thiacremonone, can help in lowering free radicals by foraging and plaguing them. But that’s not all, garlic also contains ajoene. Ajoene is a disulfide that has an anti-clotting mechanism. Additionally, the allicin in garlic can block the activities made by angiotensin II. Angiotensin II contracts the blood vessels, with allicin, contraction is reduced, and therefore blood pressure is lowered, protecting the heart. But these are not just the cardioprotective power of garlic, garlic also contains selenium, manganese, vitamin B6 and C that helps lower the LDL cholesterol levels and inflammation, which are reasons

5. CoQ10

   Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is naturally produced by our body to produce the energy necessary the growth and the maintenance of cells. CoQ10 is also considered as an antioxidant. For years, research has shown that a supplementation of CoQ10 can help in lowering the blood pressure, therefore protecting the heart from damage brought about by hypertension. Although CoQ10 is reduced in people who are suffering from heart failure, but strong evidence is yet to be discovered to show that a supplementation of CoQ10 can protect those who are suffering from heart failure from developing complications.

Sources
lifescript.com
menshealth.com
sparkpeople.com
consumerreports.org