Introduction
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and it is important to take steps to reduce your risk. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are two of the best ways to keep your heart healthy, but there is one supplement that science says is the best for heart disease prevention. Eat This Not That has identified the #1 best supplement for heart disease, and in this article, we will discuss why this supplement is so beneficial and how you can incorporate it into your diet.
The #1 Best Supplement for Heart Disease, Says Science — Eat This Not That
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and it’s important to take steps to protect your heart health. While diet and exercise are key components of a healthy lifestyle, there are also supplements that can help reduce your risk of heart disease. According to recent research, the #1 best supplement for heart disease is omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that are found in fish, nuts, and certain plant oils. They are known to reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that taking omega-3 supplements can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by up to 25%.
If you’re looking to add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, the best way to do so is by eating fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines. You can also get omega-3s from plant sources such as flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts. If you don’t like the taste of fish or don’t have access to fresh fish, you can also take omega-3 supplements.
Omega-3 fatty acids are an important part of a healthy diet, and they can help reduce your risk of heart disease. If you’re looking for the #1 best supplement for heart disease, look no further than omega-3 fatty acids.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, with about 659,000 people dying each year. Those who are at the highest risk of heart disease have underlying issues such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. Unhealthy habits such as smoking, excessive drinking, poor diet, and lack of exercise can also lead to potential heart disease.
For those at risk, there are ways to lower the potential, such as changing your eating habits and constantly checking and managing your underlying conditions. Medications and supplements can also act as helpful aids. In fact, a study has shown that cocoa extract supplements are a way to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease deaths.
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A study done by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined whether cocoa extract supplementation decreases total cardiovascular disease (CVD) among older adults. Researchers included 12,666 women 65 or older, and 8,776 men 60 or older, all of whom were free of major cardiovascular disease and recently diagnosed cancer.
The experiment used a double-blind, two-by-two factorial trial. Cocoa extract supplements were given at random, as were multivitamins for the placebo—a harmless pill prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect—from June 2015 through December 2020.
After 3.6 years, it was determined that cocoa extract supplements reduced CVD death in older adults by 27%. It was also determined that potential reductions in total cardiovascular events were supported in per-protocol analysis –an interpretation of randomized clinical trial results that removes data from patients who didn’t comply with the protocol.
Cocoa extract comes from the cacao bean, which you usually find in chocolate. According to the National Cancer Institute, the extract comes with potential benefits such as anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection, cognition enhancing and chemopreventive activities, and vasodilation– the widening of blood vessels as a result of the relaxation of the blood vessel’s muscular walls.
The extract contains flavonoids–a group of plant metabolites thought to provide health benefits through cell signaling pathways and antioxidant effects. The flavonoids include high levels of epicatechin, catechin, procyanidins, and xanthines, such as theobromine.
The National Cancer Institute also suggests consuming cocoa extract causes its effective ingredients to create vasodilation. This, in turn, improves blood flow and decreases blood pressure. The cocoa extract also improves insulin sensitivity, enhances cognition, and decreases the production of pro-inflammatory molecules.
For more information on cardiovascular disease, take a look at Eating Habits to Avoid if You Don’t Want Heart Disease, Says Science.
Kayla Garritano