Help Your Heart Continued...
…smoking, chronic inhalation of second-hand smoke, heavy metal exposures like lead, air pollution, radiation and high blood sugar (diabetes).
While we may not feel the effects of free radical damage, we can see changes in appearance and function of our body parts as a result of the aging process. For example, vision decline due to cataracts, loss of skin elasticity and greying hair are some of the more obvious signs of cumulative free radical damage.
Yet some of the effects of free radical damage cannot be seen by looking in the mirror. For example, the cardiovascular disease process involves oxidation of LDL cholesterol— a process of free radicals generation in the absence of adequate antioxidants.As a result of this deficit, combined with various other stressors, the walls of our blood vessels can become damaged or narrowed, reducing the flow of blood and increasing the pressure on the arteries, leading to hypertension.
NAC and Mitochondrial Dysfunction
NAC is also important to heart health because it protects our energy-producing factories within each cell, called mitochondria. Our heart, brain and liver consume a lot of energy, so they contain more mitochondria than other body tissues. Without NAC, these mitochondria can become dysfunctional, which sets the foundation for many chronic diseases of these organs when not supplied with the nutrients they need to work optimally.
One interesting study showed that a combination of vitamin C, NAC and the mineral selenium improved mitochondrial function in the disease called cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart). While this study used rats rather than humans, it’s important to consider the potential benefits for people diagnosed with this same pathology.
Do You Know the Essential Role of Magnesium???
Magnesium levels can contribute more significantly to heart disease than cholesterol or saturated fats – common risk factors, like: high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and metabolic syndrome are all associated with low Magnesium levels.
And low magnesium levels can also worsen congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, chest pain, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, heart muscle disease, and heart attack.
Taurine’s effects on cardiovascular health is a function of the beneficial effects it has on insulin and insulin receptors, on obesity, muscle health, energy, sleep, brain function, and stress.
The heart muscle contains the highest concentrations of Taurine and studies indicate that it helps retain Magnesium and Potassium within the muscle, which is very important for cellular health & hydration & electrical stability & regularity and strength of muscle contractions.
Additional studies show that individuals with high blood pressure have lower levels of Taurine in the bloodstream.
CoQ10 is a natural antioxidant and helps keep LDL cholesterol in its normal, less sticky, oxidative state.
It helps support optimal heart muscle function, circulatory health, blood vessel wall health.
CoQ10 deficiency has been associated with cardiovascular problems including angina, arrhythmia, heart failure and high blood pressure, but also with compromised blood sugar regulation, stomach ulcers, gum disease, chronic fatigue and muscle pain.
Individuals using cholesterol lowering drugs (Statins) are at a particular risk of CoQ10 deficiency, because the drugs also block the body’s own CoQ10 production.
We've got a Bone to Pick with You!
While vitamin K-1 (phylloquinone) is best known for its role in blood coagulation, K-2 plays an essential role in the development and maintenance of the human skeleton by activating two key bone proteins: osteocalcin and matrix GIa protein (MGP).
Although it supports calcium deposition into the bone mineral matrix, vitamin K-2 also helps to keep calcium from depositing in soft tissues. For this reason, it may have a protective role against atherosclerosis in the maintenance of arterial flexibility. In essence, K-2 MK-7 ensures that calcium is sent to where it should be–not to where it doesn’t belong.
Having good bones is obviously essential. Combine this with the need to keep the engine of our body, our heart, in optimal condition, there are things we can all do to achieve this. Supplements can assist along with steady exercise and as healthy a diet as we can maintain!
