Eating well can change the odds

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. An unhealthy diet is one of the most significant risks.

Just 5 percent helps

The most detailed study of dietary fats so far found that replacing just 5 percent of calories from saturated fat with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats lowers the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Supplements, inflammation, and heart disease

Omega-3s

In a broad review of studies involving omega-3 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, supplementing with omega-3s was found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 13 percent and of dying of it by 35 percent.

Hawthorn and curcumin

When we asked Weiss about heart supplements with anti-inflammatory powers, he recommended hawthorn and curcumin. He explained that hawthorn protects the endothelium, while Curcumin, he says, “has a more general anti-inflammatory effect and also reduces the oxidation of cholesterol.”

The following are all potent anti-inflammatories that may have a positive effect in preventing heart disease:

• ginkgo

• olive leaf extract

• pine bark extract

• grapeseed extract

• green tea

• pomegranate

• ginger

• hibiscus

• vitamins C and D

• quercetin

There are two important lessons from the inflammationheart health connection. The first is that simple dietary changes and safe natural supplements may help prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. The second is the need to be aware of early heart-health warning signs such as joint pain, digestive issues, blood sugar issues, fatigue, insomnia, and depression.

So, with a couple lifestyle tweaks and a little awareness, you can give your heart the love and care it needs to keep beating strong! The question is, are you ready to begin?

Foods for heart health

FOOD soy nuts and seeds

HEART-HEALTH BENEFITS may help significantly lower LDL (bad) cholesterol contribute to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides and may help lower the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease

NUTRIENTS isoflavones fiber; monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats extra-virgin olive oil flaxseed can help reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and improve cholesterol may help lower blood pressure monounsaturated fats; phenolic compounds omega-3 EFAs; lignans