Heart Disease

Heart disease, heart attack, arteriosclerosis, high homocysteine and cholesterol levels, all are being successfully treated with natural supplements, sometimes even eliminating the need for expensive prescription drugs with debilitating side effects.  If on medication please consult your doctor and note that blood thinning supplements should not be taken together with blood thinning drugs.

What are Cardiovascular Heart Diseases?

Cardiovascular disease includes coronary heart disease (heart attack, angina, and chest pain), stroke, heart failure, atherosclerosis, rheumatic heart disease, genetic cardiovascular defects, arrhythmias, Kawasaki disease, bacterial endocarditis, cardiomyopathy, diseases of pulmonary circulation, diseases of vein and lymphatic systems, and other diseases of the circulatory system.

CoQ10 is used worldwide in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and works to increase the effectiveness of other treatments for congestive heart failure.

Lycopene supplements reduce the risk of Cardio Vascular Disease by 50%.  A recent study showed that men with the lowest levels of Lycopene had more than a 3 times greater risk of having an acute coronary event or stroke. 

Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 help keep nerves and red blood cells healthy and may also lower blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is linked to heart disease, blood clots, heart attack, and strokes.  They may prevent the development and progression of atherosclerosis

Lecithin and/or Choline supplements may reduce the risk for heart disease though lowering homocysteine levels.  In a recent study with choline supplementation, subjects with elevated homocysteine levels had a 30% reduction compared to placebo.

Proanthocyanidins, from Grape Seed Extract and Hawthorn, are thought to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow to the heart.  They are a key ingredient in pharmaceuticals used in Western Europe for vascular and circulation disorders.  Hawthorn is used by practitioners for help in preventing angina attacks, to reduce atherosclerotic plaque, and to treat Raynauds disease and varicose veins.

The Food and Drug Administration approves the use of Omega 3 fatty acids EPA & DHA and fiber such as Psyllium Husks or Glucomannan to protect against Coronary Heart Disease.  Recent research confirms that a higher intake of Omega-3s can slow the development of atherosclerotic plaques and Fish Oils can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis.

Taurine, the most abundant amino acid in the heart, helps regulate the contraction and pumping action of the heart muscle. A recent study conducted on patients with congestive heart failure, found Taurine provided significant improvement in heart function.

A new study done with mice suggests that supplements of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) can inhibit formation of arterial lesions, lower triglycerides, and reduce blood vessel inflammation and weight gain, all key issues for addressing cardiovascular disease.  

Patients with coronary heart disease in particular have significantly lower Chromium, L-Carnitine and Folic Acid than healthy people and therefore supplementation may be beneficial. 

Natural Supplements for Atherosclerosis

Collagen and Vitamin C may both help to stave off heart disease, including Arteriosclerosis. Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 may prevent the development and progression of atherosclerosis.  Co Q10 and Vitamin E protects LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and may therefore be effective in treating atherosclerosis.

Hawthorn supplements are used by practitioners around the world for help to reduce atherosclerotic plaque.  Aged Garlic has been shown to reduce platelet aggregation, and slow coronary calcification which combats atherosclerosis.  Also low levels of Lycopene are also associated with increased thickness of plaque in the arterial wall.

Natural Supplements to aid Blood Quality, Clotting, and Thinning

Vitamin K plays a role in the function of several proteins that regulate the blood’s ability to clot.  Vitamin K has been given to counteract clotting mechanism disruptions caused by certain medications by health care professionals.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that assists in the formation of red blood cells and is a natural blood thinner on a par with Aspirin.