Why do we need to give focus on the health of the heart? This is because the heart is considered to be one of the most important organs in the human body.

The pumping action of the heart, giving oxygen-rich blood to the different organs of the body, including itself, makes the human being alive. While we are still an infant of biotechnology, without the heart, there is no life. Problems of the heart will mean problems of the entire body. If the heart pumps less than what is normal, some of the organs will be deprived of the necessary nutrients to function, including the oxygen, which will eventually lead to a specific disorder. If the heart pumps more than what is normal, the heart will be strained and will come to the point that it cannot function as well as when it is normal. If the heart has irregular rhythm, it can lead to the development of other diseases of other systems of the body.

The heart must be taken care of in order to get optimum health. In order to do this, stress must be controlled, exercises must be done regularly, nutritious foods must be eaten constantly and heart supplements must be considered liberally. When choosing the right foods or heart supplements, one must make sure that it contains the top nutrients that are essential to the health of the heart. The following are the top nutrients necessary to achieve healthy heart:

1. Magnesium

   Found in pumpkin seeds, spinach, Swiss chard, soybeans, sesame seeds and halibut, magnesium is essential because of its action to relax the nerve and muscles and to keep the circulation of the blood normal. Individuals suffering from heart arrhythmia, those with increased heart rate and irregular contraction are advised to increase their consumption of foods rich in magnesium. Magnesium is one of the macrominerals, just like calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. Most of the magnesium in our body can be found in the bones; however one-fourth of the total amount is found in muscles, particularly the cardiac muscles. A human being cannot produce magnesium on its own, so therefore it has to be taken from the diet. Magnesium has several health benefits, but there is more focus on the heart.

   In a study published by the journal Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, it showed that magnesium helps in the relaxation of the blood vessels, which is essential in lowering the blood pressure of the person. If there is lowering of blood pressure, there is also the decline of the heart’s pumping action, which can result to health heart. The National Academy of Sciences recommended to limit the daily intake of magnesium for persons 9 years old and above to 350 milligrams only.

2. CoEnzyme Q10

   CoEnzyme Q10 has found its way to the heart’s heart and the blood vessels. Perhaps, CoEnzyme Q10 is one of the fascinating discoveries for natural therapy of the heart. Another name for CoEnzyme Q10 is ubiquinone, and it is found in large amounts in fish, organ meats and the whole grain’s germs. CoEnzyme Q10 is not just an antioxidant, it also helps in the production of energy in our body. According to the findings of John Bisognano, MD, PhD of the University of Rochester Medical Center, persons who are taking CoEnzyme Q10 because of hypertension has shown that their blood pressure is lowered with regular use. By lowering the blood pressure, the heart’s labor is lowered, providing more protection to the heart.

3. Lecithin

   A type of lipid, lecithin contains inositol and choline. Lecithin help regulate what enters into the cell membrane and what exits. The human body produces lecithin naturally. Because of its capacity to enhance the communication of nerves and muscles as well as its gate-keeping capability, the build-up of harmful homocysteine in the blood is being prevented. Homocysteine has been implicated in several cardiovascular diseases. Lecithin may be found in eggs, calf’s liver, turkey, chicken, scallop, shrimp and salmon. With increased lecithin, inflammation in the body is reduced due to reduction in concentration of homocysteine and C-reactive protein, substances that causes inflammation of the heart and other organs. By increasing lecithin in the normal diet, there is an assurance of getting a healthy heart.

4. Vitamin C

   This wonder vitamin can actually help the heart. Vitamin C, which can be found in papaya, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli and almost all types of fruits and vegetables, has several heath benefits to the cardiovascular system. Firstly, vitamin C protects the cells from any damage due to the free radical. Therefore vitamin C is actually an antioxidant. Second, vitamin C improves the absorption of iron. Lastly, vitamin C can help in regenerating the supply of vitamin E. In a presentation during the 2011 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, it has shown that those with low levels of vitamin C has high levels if C-reactive protein, a substance responsible for inflammation including heart diseases. Patients diagnosed with heart failures with low vitamin C levels also shows poorer outcome in health. Adequate intake of vitamin C is therefore necessary, not just in the treatment of heart disorders but also in the prevention of any heart diseases.

5. Selenium

   Selenium is a micromineral that is essential to the human body. The antioxidant capacity of selenium is what makes it important to the health of the heart. But selenium, which can be found in tuna, cod, halibut, shrimp, salmon, mushrooms and turkey, is not only hailed for protecting the cells by the damage caused by the free radicals, the mineral is also essential in controlling the thyroid hormones in our body. Being an antioxidant, the heart muscle is protected from further damage. With controlled thyroid hormone levels in the blood, there will be fewer complications in the heart’s ability to function.

6. Folic Acid

   In a study made by Dr. David Wald published in the British Medical Journal, there is strong evidence that folic acid can help in preventing any heart-related problems. Homocysteine, an amino acid produced by the body, has been implicated in several cardiovascular disorders. The function of folic acid, is to help in preventing the accumulation of homocysteine in the blood. Because of this, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases is reduced. As logic suggest, therefore, if there is an increase in consumption of foods rich in folic acid, such as calf liver, lentils, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, spinach, collard and turnip greens, the risk of developing heart diseases as well as stroke is also diminished.

7. Flavonoids

   There are over 6,000 types of flavonoids that are found in various plants. Flavonoids are responsible for the interesting color of the fruits and vegetables that we eat. Another name for flavonoids if vitamin P. For the health of the heart, flavonoids helps in protecting the cell structure of the heart, labeling the nutrient as an antioxidant. Additionally, flavonoids also help in lowering the blood pressure, therefore protecting the heart from too much strain.

Sources
majidali.com
healthadel.com