Natural Health Tips

Posts Tagged ‘Heart Health’

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, and is an illness which concerns many men and women over the age of forty. Even if you maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly, you can still benefit from additional, precautionary measures such as taking supplements.

One of the best supplements for heart health is Vitamin E. Vitamin E has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease by up to 40% over time, so long as it is taken consistently and regularly. Vitamin E should be taken while ingesting fat. Unlike many other vitamins which are water-soluble, vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin which means it can only be properly digested and utilized with fat in the body.

Also worth mentioning is that while vitamin E is wonderful for heart health, there is some truth to the old adage “too much of a good thing can be a bad thing”. Vitamin E can cause diarrhea or excessive bleeding if consumed at high levels, and you also need to take care when combining Vitamin E with fish oils. Natural vitamin E, also known as d-tocopherol, is among the best kinds to take. A good dosage for heart health maintenance is 200 to 400 IUs per day. Most supplements are sold in either 200 or 400 IU capsules.

Another great vitamin is Vitamin C. Unlike “E”, Vitamin C is water soluble. Unfortunately, humans do not produce their own vitamin C in their bodies and therefore must constantly replenish their levels with outside sources. A lot of people enjoy vitamin C-rich foods, which are easier to eat at plentiful levels than Vitamin-E rich foods. Sources of Vitamin E tend to be animal sources, while vitamin C can be found in great-tasting foods like oranges, strawberries, and many other fruit and vegetable sources.