The cardiovascular system is a true biochemical and physiological “workhorse”. The average heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day, pumping close to 2,000 gallons of blood through its chambers. This level of activity requires significant nutritional support. Diet affects your cardiovascular health, and getting enough of a few key vitamins helps keep your heart and blood vessels working properly. Vitamins including, but not limited to:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C plays an important role in maintaining your cardiovascular system. Your heart and blood vessels contain collagen, a type of protein. Collagen fibers help strengthen the walls of your blood vessels and heart, preventing tears or ruptures. Vitamin C helps your body produce this collagen, and failure to get enough vitamin C increases your risk of blood vessel rupture. Try to consume vitamin C each day -- 90 milligrams for men or 75 milligrams for women, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Many fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, tomatoes, red peppers and watermelon, serve as sources of the vitamin.†
Vitamin B-12
Getting enough vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, also nourishes your cardiovascular system. Oxygen transport in your bloodstream relies on a protein called hemoglobin. This protein binds to the oxygen from the air you breathe into your lungs, then releases that oxygen once your blood has reached other areas of your body. Vitamin B-12 helps you produce hemoglobin. As a result, people with vitamin B-12 deficiency cannot efficiently produce hemoglobin and develop anemia, which can cause fatigue, pale skin and difficulty concentrating. Eat meats, eggs, low-fat dairy products or fortified cereals to get the 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B-12 you need daily, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.†
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, a hormone called calcitriol, also affects your cardiovascular system. According to a study published in "Current Opinion on Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care" in 2008, suffering from a vitamin D deficiency puts you at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke. It also has other negative effects on your health, leading to bone loss as you age. Try to get 15 micrograms of vitamin D each day, your recommended daily intake according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Low-fat dairy products, salmon, egg yolks and fortified cereals all contain vitamin D, and getting moderate sun exposure each day also helps prevent a deficiency.†
Eating for Cardiovascular Health
In addition to eating foods rich in vitamins C, B-12 and D, you should avoid foods that harm your heart. Limit your saturated fat consumption -- the type of fat found in fatty meats and full-fat dairy products -- to less than 7 percent of your daily calorie intake, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. A diet rich in the fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. You should also avoid eating too much sodium, since it increases blood pressure and can contribute to cardiovascular disease in some individuals. Avoid pre-packaged foods, which tend to be packed with sodium, and instead make homemade whole foods the basis for your diet.†
Heart Disease and Supplementation
Cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, or coronary artery disease (CAD), is the number one killer in the United States. Diet and lifestyle play an important role in preventing and reversing heart disease, and certain herbs and supplements can help lower your risk for heart disease and treat heart conditions you’ve already been diagnosed with.†
Several herbs and supplements may help in fighting atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of most heart disease. Atherosclerosis causes plaque to build up in your arteries, blocking the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other organs. It can cause a heart attack and even death.†
You can treat and prevent heart disease by decreasing risk factors, such as maintaining a healthy blood pressure and cholesterol level, managing stress, eating healthfully, and getting plenty of exercise. Herbs and supplements can help prevent heart disease and reduce its symptoms by lowering blood pressure, improving breathing, and helping your heart to function better.†
Dr. Kenawy’s Cardio Support Formula contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, and cofactors, including L-CarniPure® brand L-Carnitine, SoyLife® isoflavones, CoQ10, green tea, and much more..† Through various mechanisms, the nutrients contained in our Cardio Support formula provide the foundation for a healthy cardiovascular system.† There are many nutrients, herbs and other cofactors that help support a healthy cardiovascular system and which are included in our Cardio Support formula.†
Features:
- Vitamin C, E, niacin, folic acid, vitamin B-12, and B-6 provide antioxidants and support healthy blood homocysteine levels.†
- Magnesium for healthy heart and blood vessel function.†
- L-CarniPure® brand L-Carnitine plays a role in energy production.†
- Carnipure® is a special grade of L-Carnitine, manufactured by the Swiss company Lonza. Products carrying the Carnipure® quality seal on the packaging show that they contain high quality Lonza L-Carnitine.
- Green tea extract contains the potent antioxidant EGCG.
- CoQ10 is an important nutrient for cardiovascular health.†
- Horse chestnut extract provides a compound that may play a role in blood vessel health.†
- SoyLife® is rich in isoflavones.
- Hawthorn is from a high-quality European source with clinical research supporting its efficacy and safety.†
Benefits
- Antioxidants like vitamin C and E along with green tea extract help neutralize free radicals and help protect the cardiovascular system.†
- Homocysteine is a known cardiovascular “toxin”; levels of which the B-vitamins folic acid, B12, and B6 have been shown to reduce.†
- CoQ10 is an important antioxidant, and helps support the production of energy (ATP) which is critical for normal, healthy heart function.†
- Magnesium is a major mineral, and is essential for maintaining normal blood pressure by helping to relax the smooth muscle that comprises the lining of blood vessels.†
- Extensive research has been done on the role of soy and its active compounds. SoyLife® Soy extract contains isoflavones, which studies show help support healthy blood cholesterol levels and an overall healthy cardiovascular system.†
- L-carnitine helps maintain healthy heart function and normal, healthy blood triglyceride levels.†
- Carnipure® L-Carnitine is the nutrient needed to help support conversion of fat into metabolic energy.
- The amino acid taurine is found in high concentrations in healthy heart muscle tissue. When there is a decline in taurine concentrations, studies demonstrate a reduction in the efficiency of cardiac muscle function.†
- Standardized hawthorn and horse chestnut help support the relaxation of blood vessels and the heart’s contractility, and help provide support for the integrity of blood vessel structure, respectively.†
- SoyLife® is a unique isoflavone ingredient manufactured exclusively from carefully selected non-GMO soy germ. SoyLife® is vegan, kosher and halal and suitable for clean label formulations. Organic SoyLife® variants are available as well. SoyLife® has been the leading isoflavone product for more than 15 years, contributing to the scientific understanding of the
†These statements have not been evaluated by The Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your General Practitioner. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.