Despite its relatively small size, the heart is one the most pivotal organs in sustaining human life. Day after day, the heart pumps blood throughout the body to give your tissue the nutrition and oxygen it needs to function (1). A pretty huge role for something so small!

Given its critical role in our biological function, it’s important to take the necessary steps to increase the likelihood of a healthy and strong heart. Just like any muscle, you can strengthen your heart through healthy lifestyle choices. However, if you want extra support, you may also want to consider taking vitamins and minerals alongside a healthy lifestyle and diet.

Top vitamins for heart health

Let’s take a look at the best supplements for the heart that you can conside adding to your daily routiner:

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. The pigment is usually consumed by marine organisms, like salmon, trout, and prawn, which grants their distinct reddish colour. It is also found in yeast, fungi, and other complex plants.

Astaxanthin has been shown to relieve inflammation, making it a potential therapeutic agent against cardiovascular complications (2). Studies show that dietary supplementation with astaxanthin has the potential to provide cells with antioxidant protection and reduces the risk of cardiovascular complications (2).

Magnesium

Magnesium is a trace mineral that maintains heart health by supporting the relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle cell. Doctors also believe that sufficient magnesium intake may have a protective effect against heart disease. Evidence suggests that a magnesium deficiency might be linked to some cardiovascular diseases (4).

Acetyl L-carnitine

The acetylated and bioavailable form of L-carnitine is found in high concentrations in the heart, three times more than that found in muscles, indicating its importance in biological function in this key organ. It is believed that ACL guards against ischemic heart injury by preventing the formation of free radicals in the heart muscle.

Fish oil

Fish oil from fish tissues are excellent sources of omega-3, a type of polyunsaturated fat that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke (3). Salmon, blue mackerel, herring, and canned sardines are good sources of omega-3 (3). When consumed, fish oils activate a series of chemical changes that can reduce inflammation. While inflammation is not necessarily bad, excessive inflammation is often a contributing factor to heart disease.

Veg omega

Like fish oil, Vitable’s veg omega contains naturally sourced omega-3 fatty acids. Fish is the leading dietary source of omega-3. Adult Australians should eat 2-3 servings of oily fish per week, according to The Heart Foundation (3). If you want to further enhance your heart-healthy diet, you may want to consider including a veg omega supplement in your vitamin subscription.

Personalised vitamins for heart health

A healthy heart provides a strong foundation for overall health and wellbeing. As early as now, you can take the necessary steps to care for this key organ so you can experience the most out of life. At Vitable, we offer custom vitamins packs for heart health that can be mixed and matched with daily vitamins based on your health profile. It even comes with a vitamin delivery service to anywhere in Australia too!

Find out more about other areas that the above supplements can help you with:

Astaxanthin | Magnesium | Acetyl L-carnitine | Fish oil | Veg omega

*Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional. Vitamin and/or mineral supplements should not replace a balanced diet.

References:

1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. How the heart works. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/how-heart-works Accessed October 17, 2021
2. National Institutes of Health. (2011). Astaxanthin: A Potential Therapeutic Agent in Cardiovascular Disease. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3083660/  Accessed October 17, 2021
3. The Heart Foundation. (2015). Fish and omega-3: Questions and answers. https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/getmedia/4adbe011-db9a-4777-8a99-db6365e27cb1/Consumer_QA_Fish_Omega3_Cardiovascular_Health.pdf Accessed October 17, 2021
4. HealthDirect. Magnesium deficiency. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/magnesium-deficiency Accessed November 17, 2021