As February is the month of love and we are surrounded by love hearts everywhere we go, there is no better time than to think about our own hearts and how we can keep them as healthy as possible.
Before we talk supplements, here is some simple general advice we should all follow, not just for February, but throughout the year for a healthier, happier heart:
- Eat a well-balanced diet and include heart healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, oily fish, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
- Engage in regular exercise and physical activity.
- Maintain a healthy weight and control your blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
- Don’t smoke and limit alcohol consumption.
- Get regular check-ups with your chosen trusted healthcare practitioner.
Supporting Your Heart Health with Omega-3
Many studies have looked at the effects of Omega-3s, primarily DHA and EPA from oily fish, on heart disease. Omega-3s are essential fatty acids and a type of unsaturated fat which the body needs in small quantities. As our bodies are unable to produce DHA and EPA, these Omega-3s must be obtained through our diet and/or supplementation.
The interest in Omega-3s and heart health was initially spurred by research dating back to the 1970’s which found lower incidence of heart attacks and other coronary events among Greenland Inuit and other fish-eating populations, such as those in Japan. Several studies since then have reported that higher consumption of fish and higher dietary levels of Omega-3s are associated with a lower risk of heart failure, coronary disease and fatal coronary disease. Omega-3s offer protection from heart disease by reducing the heart’s susceptibility to arrythmias (irregular heartbeat), lowering triglyceride levels and lowering blood pressure.
The vast majority of us (89% of Irish people) do not get enough oily fish in our diets so are at risk of sub-optimal intakes of Omega-3s. Taking a high-quality supplement like our SOMEGA Easy Omega-3 + Vitamin D3 can help bridge the potential nutritional gap and is vital for a healthy happy heart throughout your life. Because we know that fish oils aren’t the tastiest, our Easy Omega-3 + Vitamin D3 has been formulated to create a creamy texture with a natural fruity taste, meaning it’s easy and tasty to take and make part of your daily health regime.
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Vitamin C for Heart Health
We’ve said it before, but Vitamin C is probably the hardest working vitamin with numerous benefits ranging from boosting your energy levels to supporting your immune system and skin health.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects your cells from harmful molecules known as free radicals. When free radicals accumulate, they promote oxidative stress which is linked to the development of many diseases, including heart disease. Not only does Vitamin C act as antioxidant itself, fighting against these free radicals, it also helps to recycle Vitamin E, another powerful antioxidant.
Many factors increase the risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, high triglyceride or LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Studies have shown that Vitamin C supplements may help to lower blood pressure in both healthy adults and in people with high blood pressure (important to note that people with high blood pressure should not rely only on Vitamin C for treatment). An analysis of 13 studies found that taking a Vitamin C supplement of at least 500mg/day significantly reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels.
Remarkably, an analysis of 9 studies combining data from almost 300,000 participants found that after 10 years, people who took at least 700mg of Vitamin C daily had a 25% lower risk of heart disease than those who did not take a Vitamin C supplement.
SOMEGA Liposomal Vitamin C provides 1000mg Vitamin C/15ml serving for optimum heart health benefits and can be enjoyed straight from the spoon or added to your favourite cold drinks.
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So, for a healthier and happier heart this February and throughout the year, we recommend our SOMEGA Easy Omega-3 + Vitamin D3 and SOMEGA Liposomal Vitamin C.
