Heart health continues to be an important topic in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease was still the top cause of death in the country in 2019. Cardiovascular disease, listed as the underlying cause of death, accounted for 874,613 deaths in the United States. Furthermore, coronary heart disease accounted for approximately 12.6% of U.S. deaths in 2018.
What can you do to prevent becoming a part of these statistics? Healthy eating and regular exercise are most often mentioned to increase your overall health. If you are not partaking in these habits, this can be your first step in supporting a healthy heart.
What if you want to go beyond healthy eating and regular exercise? Supplements might provide the extra source of vitamins and nutrients your body is lacking. You should always consult with your doctor about which medications you are already taking and how these might interact with anything else you are considering taking. After properly assessing your current health situation, here are 10 supplements you might consider that can benefit your heart.
1. Multivitamin
Perhaps this seems obvious, but multivitamins are mentioned for many other benefits and not always associated with heart health. Your diet should remain the primary source of necessary vitamins and nutrients, but you can supplement them with a multivitamin or specific vitamins depending on what your diet lacks.
2. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a nutrient found in mitochondria, which is where your cells produce energy. One of the main CoQ10 benefits is increased energy, which helps your heart because it requires a lot of energy. Other CoQ10 benefits include that it supports healthy blood pressure. Some clinical studies have shown that CoQ10 benefits congestive heart failure.
3. Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are typically associated with fish, but they can also be found in plants. These have a number of health benefits beyond the heart, but supporting a healthy heart is the best reason to make sure you are getting enough of these each day.
4. Niacin
Niacin has been known to support healthy cholesterol levels in multiple ways. Healthy cholesterol is a key component of battling heart disease and heart attacks.
5. Magnesium
Magnesium has been linked to supporting a healthy heart for many reasons. It can support healthy arteries, which help support healthy blood pressure. It has also been linked to supporting healthy sleep patterns. Your body needs good sleep to recharge and have the proper amount of energy to attack the day. Lack of sleep and increased stress are two factors that can contribute to an unhealthy heart.
6. L-Carnitine
This amino acid is central to transporting fatty acids to the mitochondria, which you recall is where your cells produce energy. Just like the CoQ10 benefits we mentioned earlier, L-carnitine helps provide the necessary energy production to support a healthy heart.
7. D-Ribose
This is another one that contributes to the production of cellular energy, known as ATP. Even though it has been said before, energy production is an important part of maintaining a healthy heart.
8. Fiber
This is further down the list because food is the best source of fiber for your body. However, if you need to supplement your diet with additional fiber, you can find plenty of options. If you’ve seen any labels or commercials for foods with high fiber lately, you know it is strongly associated with a healthy heart.
9. Green Tea
This has been a popular way to supplement health for a long time. I could write an entire article about all of the benefits I have heard connected to green tea. Heart health is among them. This is because green tea can help support healthy cholesterol levels.
10. Garlic
This one surprises people, partly because they do not know it can be taken as a supplement. If you want to add it to your arsenal, garlic can support healthy arteries and blood flow. However, it may increase your risk of bleeding, so inform your doctor and dentist that you are taking garlic before having any medical or dental procedures.
Conclusion
It is not difficult to find supplements that can benefit the heart. Consult with your doctor or a medical professional about your heart’s health status and if supplements might make sense for you. If you are in the market for supplements, this list is a good place to start. From multivitamin and CoQ10 benefits all the way to green tea and garlic, you can research and determine which are the best for you.
The main thing to remember is that heart disease continues to be a primary cause of death in the United States, so it’s important that you take care of yours. Diet and exercise remain at the forefront of maintaining good heart health, and supplements can be an extra tool you use in the battle.