General Health Information

The cardiovascular system includes the heart, blood vessels, veins, and capillaries. The heart must beat regularly to pump adequate amounts of blood throughout the body so that all body organs and tissues get a continual supply of oxygen and nutrients. A healthy vascular system is open and unobstructed, and rich in magnesium, l-carnitine, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, l-taurine, and many other nutrients, which cumulatively help insure continual cardiovascular health. Optimal cardiovascular health can be maintained by supplying the body with key nutrients throughout our life. Daily intake of critical nutrients helps ensure that our heart and blood vessels are well nourished.

Clogged blood vessels can lead to many serious health problems. Obstruction of the coronary vessels is often preceded by a narrowing of the arteries caused by atherosclerotic deposits made up of cholesterol, lipids, and lipoproteins (commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries). Several dietary factors are thought to influence coronary artery disease by promoting atherosclerosis and/or thrombosis (clotting). Of these dietary factors, the undesirable effects of dietary fat (particularly saturated fat) on homocysteine and cholesterol metabolism are well documented.

The importance of beneficial dietary components such as unsaturated fats (omega 3 & 6 fatty acids), trans fatty acids, antioxidants, herbs and phytonutrients, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, and fiber cannot be overlooked and should be considered as supplemental support to cardiovascular health. Further, it is not known whether these effects of diet are additive or interact in a more subtle way. It is clear, however, that coronary artery disease is not controlled by any single characteristic of the diet.

Wellness Plan

Regular aerobic exercise Low fat, low carbohydrate, low salt, high fiber diet, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables Moderate alcohol and caffeine intake Avoid smoking Stress management Work towards ideal body weight Pharmacist’s Supplement Recommendations: Antioxidants - coenzyme Q10, grape seed extract, red grape skin extract, Pycnogenol Amino Acids - L-carnitine, taurine Herbals - green tea leaf, hawthorn, forskolin, garlic, bilberry, ginkgo biloba, milk thistle, turmeric, rosemary and horsechestnut Vitamins and Minerals - especially niacin, vitamins B6, B12, C and E, folic acid, magnesium, calcium, and selenium Essential Fatty Acids - omega-3, omega-6, DHA