Looking after your heart with the right nutrients

HIGH blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are common issues that people ask me about. These conditions are risk factors for heart disease, don’t ignore them. Many prefer to use natural remedies to treat these conditions.

This includes Vitamin C, Red Rice Yeast, and Magnesium to support heart health. Arginine helps to clear blocked arteries. Co enzyme Q10 is an important enzyme providing energy for the heart and is especially recommended if you’re on statins. Hawthorn supports the heart muscle, keeping it strong and capable of pumping all the blood around the body and will improve energy levels, and normalise blood pressure.

Plant sterols will help reduce cholesterol. High strength Omega 3 Fish oils help reduce blood pressure and to keep blood thin. Garlic normalises blood pressure, lowers cholesterol and can also keep the blood thin.

Foods to include in your diet are Lecithin granules, inulin fibre, oats, artichoke, garlic, apple cider vinegar, beetroot juice, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, hawthorn tea, flax seed, chia seed, almonds, walnuts, cacao, olive oil, and oily fish are all highly beneficial for your heart. These nutrients help to keep cholesterol and blood pressure under control and can be very easily added to your daily diet.

Stress, anxiety and emotional trauma can affect your heart health too. If you’re dealing with these issues it’s important to find ways to deal with it. This can include meditation, mindfulness, yoga, or any relaxing exercise that you enjoy doing like painting, cooking, or reading.

There are also natural remedies to help you cope with stress and anxiety if you need them. Other risk factors include, lack of exercise, being overweight, smoking, and excess alcohol. If these issues are not addressed you are putting yourself at risk of heart attack or stroke.

So if you want to look after you heart, make sure that you eat heart health promoting foods, and take supplements if you need to. Aim to reduce alcohol, sugar, smoking, and stress. Take some gentle exercise appropriate to your needs.

Our heart is an amazing organ. It works silently on our behalf pumping blood through our blood vessels to bring oxygen and food to every part of the body. We need to look after this complex organ that keeps us alive. So take good care of your heart, and it will take care of you. Clair Whitty is a Bach Flower Practitioner, Nutritional Health Coach and Vega Allergy Tester based at The Natural Health Store, 24 North Main Street, Wexford 053 9121613 | clairm1@eircom.net www.clairsclinic.ie