In the last article (which was supposed to be the last article in
this series) we covered the miraculous and beneficial effects of CoQ10 on heart
health and energy. If you or a loved one ever had a heart attack CoQ10
supplementation is a must.
As far as supplements go the story is a bit more involved than
just CoQ10 as wonderful as it is. There are a few other supplements that can
greatly improve cardiovascular health and increase energy in the process. The
news gets even better when you consider that, along with CoQ10, anyone can
benefit from a boost of energy and vitality when the following supplements are
added to a healthy lifestyle. Just as before in the previous article it is
necessary to point out that nothing written here should be construed as medical
advice and that any supplemental regimen should be discussed with your trusted
(and open minded) healthcare professional. With that caveat established let's
take a look at some of the other supplements that you may or may not be
familiar with.
D Ribose
We are energetic beings and our bodies need plenty of energy. ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) is how our body gets things done energetically
speaking. One of the main constituents of ATP is D-ribose. No D-ribose means
there can be no way to produce ATP. Without ATP there can be no energy.
D-ribose is generated by the body mostly on the as-needed basis and there is no
way to store it. This is an important factor to consider because when tissues
are under stress they cannot produce D-ribose and thus the body is robbed of
energy. The combination of poor heart function leading to oxygen deprivation
and the inability to produce energy can leave you feeling quite poor in deed.
A prominent German physiologist by the name of Heinz-Gerd Zimmer
established a connection between heart function and D-ribose. He found that
people who had hearts deprived of nutrients and oxygen sometimes due to
blockages fared better when given D-ribose.
Zimmer also found that the administration of D-ribose had restorative
powers for energy and helped bring about normal diastolic heart function. In a
1992 clinical study D-ribose was also shown to have increased the ability to do
exercise in patients that had severe coronary artery disease.
Magnesium
One of the main culprits of poor cardiovascular health is actually
the inability to properly absorb calcium which is found in plentiful amounts in
most western diets. When calcium is ill-absorbed it remains in the blood stream
longer where it has a greater chance to interact with free radicals increasing
the rate of calcification that often occurs in arteries and other blood
vessels. At this point blockages are sure to happen given enough time. This is
where magnesium comes in to help. Magnesium, along with vitamin D, helps to
convert calcium into a more absorbable form before it calcifies keeping blood
vessels clear. If that was not important, or impressive, enough magnesium is
also great at keeping platelets from aggregating (sticking together) and
forming blood clots while it also acts as a vascular dilator reducing blood
pressure. It should be noted that people suffering from renal insufficiencies
should not supplement with magnesium without medical guidance.
B Vitamin Complex
(especially B5)
B vitamins in and of themselves provides the body
with massive, sustained energy over a significant amount of time and that is
simply awesome. For the sake of this article, however, we will cover vitamin B5
specifically in a slightly different light. Many people are unaware of the
vital role B5 (also known as pantothenic acid) plays in limiting inflammation
and oxidation of cholesterol. No less than 28 clinical studies have shown that
vitamin B5 produced positive results regarding triglyceride levels and LDL
cholesterol levels while increasing HDL levels. A literature review was
conducted by Dr. Mark Houston and published in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases helped establish pantothenic
acid’s importance in cardiovascular health. The literature demonstrated after
only four months of B5 supplementation total cholesterol was reduced by 15%,
LDL cholesterol by 20% and triglycerides by 32.9% while increasing HDL by 8.4%.
He also noted that studies of longer duration showed continued improvement in
participants over the initial four month successes. Reduce inflammation and you
reduce cholesterol…period!
We long to live lives enriched by the fragrance of
energy and productivity radiating from every pore. Sometimes, however,
devastating health conditions such a heart attack can rob us of that ability
leaving one disturbed and down trodden. The beauty of nature and life is that even
if we find ourselves in this lowered state of affairs we do not have to dwell
there. An out is often provided if we look carefully and thoughtfully at our
circumstances. There are, of course, many more supplements that could be considered but this is a healthy start (pun intended). Proper supplementation of the right nutrients can be the
difference between slumming in the doldrums and soaring with the eagles after
an adverse cardiovascular event. This article should serve as a great catalyst
for conversation between you and your trusted healthcare provider.
Sources for this article include:
The
Great Cholesterol Myth (Bowden and Sinatra)
