Everything needs a break to work efficiently; however, your heart never takes one—even while you sleep. Also, it is the most important organ of your body without which you can’t carry on. Therefore, looking after your cardiovascular health, especially your heart is very important to live a healthy and happy life.
There is an abundance of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals that are best suited for supporting your heart health. The correct nutrients can help regulate your blood pressure and reduce your risk for stroke or any other heart disorder.
Therefore, read to know which nutrients are important for maintaining your heart health.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most important nutrients essential to support a healthy heart. Since our bodies can’t naturally produce these types of fatty acids, many people tend to suffer from its deficiency after failing to include enough Omega-3 in their diet.
These “good” fats are important for ensuring a healthy cardiovascular system, as their enough consumption supports healthy blood pressure and lowers LDL cholesterol. They also decrease inflammation, prevent blood clotting, and benefit the heart’s pumping activity. Fish products, nuts, and seeds are some of its rich sources.
Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency in the body has been linked to higher blood pressure by some studies, and in some rare cases, it can also result in the irregularity of heartbeat, thus, resulting in cardiac arrest.
Studies have proven that magnesium improves heart health by helping in clot prevention, enhancing fat metabolism and vessel dilation. Also, maintaining required magnesium levels in the body is known to potentially reduce the risk of hypertension.
Moreover, consuming magnesium products and magnesium-rich foods such as dark green vegetables, raw spinach, nuts and whole grains, soybeans, avocados, and dark chocolate among others may help lower blood pressure keeping other heart diseases at bay.
Potassium
You can efficiently reduce high blood pressure levels and maintain a healthy heart by having a diet rich in fruits and vegetables that are good sources of potassium, such as bananas and potatoes. Although potassium may also be obtained in supplement form, it is advised to fulfill the body’s potassium requirements from natural sources.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), is an enzyme that is naturally produced in our body and works with vitamins in the body to ensure smooth functioning of important bodily processes, including regulation of blood pressure and electron transport.
Most types of meats are extremely rich in Coenzyme Q10. For vegetarians, it can be consumed via soybean products and certain nuts. However, the other commonly eaten foods contain relatively low amounts of CoQ10, which makes it quite necessary to get enough CoQ10 required by the body via supplements.
Folic Acid
Often referred to as Vitamin B9, folic acid is another vital vitamin for better heart health. This vitamin is linked with the thinning of arterial walls. Folic acid helps to regulate the amount of homocysteine (an amino acid) associated with increasing the risk of blood clots found in the bloodstream. Therefore, it helps to reduce the risk of stroke considerably.
Folic acid is found in various natural sources including spinach, broccoli, lentils, grams, soy, brussels sprouts and asparagus.
Conclusion
In short, a balanced diet with all the necessary nutrients is your best way to keep your heart healthy. The next time you head out to grocery shopping, ditch your old habits and stock up on the foods that contain abundant vitamins and minerals to maintain your heart and brain health. So, have these nutrient- rich meals regularly to achieve your daily health goals.
