According to The British Heart Foundation, coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death and premature death in the UK. An estimated 1 in 5 men and 1 in 7 women die of CHD, with 800,000 annual deaths from CHD recorded in the UK. It can be easy to take your heart and its health for granted, but knowing that it’s one of the most vital organs for keeping us alive, it’s important to treat your heart right. 

This can mean making sure to improve your day-to-day living by avoiding smoking, being active, managing stress and eating a regular, balanced diet. It can also mean researching a wide range of natural supplements that have been shown to improve heart health:

1. Coenzyme 10 (CoQ10)

Coenzyme 10, commonly known as CoQ10, is naturally present in almost every cell in your body. It can be found in the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. CoQ10 is important in a number of functions around the body, but is most known for its role in helping to spark the production of energy in cells. 

The most concentrated levels are found in those organs that need the most energy, including the heart, liver and kidneys. CoQ10 particularly helps the heart by:

• improving the strength of its muscles
• lowering blood pressure by improving the elasticity of blood vessels

Helping to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Unfortunately, as we get older, our CoQ10 levels decline right when we need it most. In fact, biopsies of heat muscles from patients with various forms of heart disease found that over three-quarters of them were deficient in CoQ10.

2. Omega Fatty Acids

Omega fatty acids are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) that are used in every cell in our bodies. They’re called essential fats because we need them to function normally and healthily, but our bodies can’t make them on their own. Instead we have to supplement them from our diet. Omega 3s, in particular, are an essential part of our cell membrane and play a vital role in improving our heart, brain and liver health, and help to reduce inflammation. 

Omega Fatty Acids can help your heart health by regulating cholesterol, breaking down blood clots, lowering blood pressure and reducing the amount of harmful fats found in the blood that can contribute to heart attacks. Studies contrasting the rates of heart disease among populations that eat a lot of fish, which are high in Omega Fatty Acids, and those that don’t, found that the Inuit and Japanese communities, which ate more fish, recorded lower rates of heart disease. 

Once again, our levels of Omega acids start to decline as we get older, which can have detrimental effects on our health.

 3. Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is an antioxidant that is known for giving shellfish and flamingos their bright pink colour. Antioxidants protect our bodies’ cells from damage by free radicals, unstable substances that are thought to contribute to illness and the process of ageing. Research shows that Astaxanthin can help support the health of your heart by helping to maintain balanced cholesterol levels.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric is one the most effective natural supplements that has been used for hundreds of years in Asian medicine. It’s yellow pigment is caused by a substance called curcumin, which is Turmeric’s active ingredient. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that neutralises free radicals and toxins and helps your body fight against oxidative damage. It’s also a potent anti-inflammatory.

It helps your heart by improving the health of your blood vessels. It reduces the level of fatty deposits in your arteries, which helps to prevent clogged arteries - a key risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. 

5. Olive Leaf

Olives are a popular part of the Mediterranean diet and have been linked to a lower incidence of chronic disease, especially cardiovascular disease. Olive leaf contains compounds, especially oleuropein, that have high levels of antioxidants. Research shows that olive leaf extract helps to stop “bad” LDL cholesterol from building up in our arteries, which helps to increase blood flow to and from the heart and lowers blood pressure, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease. 

Its strong antioxidant ability also helps to dilate coronary blood vessels, supporting blood flow around the heart and helping to support normal blood pressure. 

6. Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a powerful natural antioxidant that is found in red grape skin used to make red wine. It’s been found to help protect against heart disease, diabetes and signs of ageing. It works by reducing the damage caused by free radicals, helping to lower blood pressure by increasing our production of nitric oxide (which causes blood vessels to dilate), and decreasing “bad” cholesterol levels.

Sources: Folkers K, Vadhanavikit S & Mortensen S A (1985) Biochemical rationale and myocardial tissue data on the effective therapy of cardiomyopathy with coenzyme Q10. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.; Duck Choi H, Kyu Youn Y, Gyoon Shin W (2011) Positive effects of astaxanthin on lipid profiles and oxidative stress in overweight subjects. Plant Foods Hum Nutr.; Wongcharoen W & Phrommintikul A (2009) The protective role of curcumin in cardiovascular diseases. Int J Cardiol.; Dontas A S, Zerefos N S, Panagiotakos D B & Valias D A (2007) Mediterranean diet and prevention of coronary heart disease in the elderly. Clin Interv Aging.;