Swanson Health Products - Daily Tips

Just right for cardiovascular support

How much DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) supplementation supports cardiovascular health? We didn’t know until we read about a study conducted in France. Apparently a 200 mg daily dose of DHA is the answer. “Now that we have a very good idea about how much DHA is just right, the next step is to try it out in an expanded clinical trial,” the editor of the FASEB Journal said. All the information was published in the FASEB Journal an arm of The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biologies. (That was a mouthful.) The French researchers rounded up 12 healthy men between 53 and 65 years old and assigned them to consume increasing doses of DHA of 200 400, 800 and 1,600 mg per day for two weeks. Researchers reported that after two weeks of 200 mg per day an “antioxidant effect” was promoted that supported a healthy cardiovascular system.

FASEB Journal 23(9):2909-2916, 2009

 

Taking flavonoids to heart

Flavonoids…what are they? No, they’re not related to The Noid, the pizza-selling character in old TV commercials. They’re compounds found in fruits and vegetables that display a variety of beneficial and antioxidant effects. Why do we care about flavonoids? Because they’re healthy. In fact, supplementing with flavonoids may support the lining of healthy blood vessels. That’s what a group of scientists found. A daily dose of quercetin or (-)-epicatechin appeared to promote healthy endothelial function, a key marker of cardiovascular health. “We have shown that oral administration of pure dietary flavonoids, quercetin and (-)-epicatechin, augment NO (nitric oxide) status in healthy men,” researchers wrote. Nitric oxide is a molecule used by the endothelium to signal surrounding muscles to relax. Flavonoids can be split into a number of sub-classes, including anthocyanins found in berries, flavonols from a variety of fruit and vegetables, flavones from parsley and thyme, flavanones from citrus, isoflavones from soy, mono- and poly-metric flavonols like the catechins in tea and the proanthocyanidins from berries, wine and chocolate.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 88(4):1018-1025, 2008

 

Raise a Glass to Promote Heart Health

The best thing about a glass of cabernet sauvignon may not be its bright, bold taste or its ability to complement the perfect pepper-grilled tuna steak. Lately, researchers are discovering the real value of red wine lies in a compound within it called resveratrol. Classed as a polyphenol, resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that has an affinity for the heart, particularly for the blood vessels that line it. Many books tout the health benefits of a Mediterranean Diet, owing to its emphasis on fish, olive oil, garlic, and other herbs and spices. One aspect of the diet that was originally overlooked, however, is the liberal consumption of red wine in France, Spain and Italy. Health experts now agree that moderate, yet daily amounts of this alcoholic beverage have also been contributing to the heart benefits, largely due to the resveratrol constituent found in the skin of red grapes. Individuals who don’t like red wine can achieve the same powerful health benefits by taking a resveratrol supplement, which are widely available at health food stores everywhere.  Whether you drink it or consume it in a capsule, resveratrol is truly something to celebrate!

Three Practical Ways to Support Heart Health

The cardiovascular system remains the number one area of concern when it comes to health, equally affecting both men and women. Doctors say that many of us don’t pay enough attention to our lifestyle, and unwittingly, we’re putting ourselves at risk for future problems. Naturally, then, it’s in our best interest to implement practical ideas that address heart health.  First off is diet. Cut as much saturated animal fat from your meals and snacks as possible, while upping the monounsaturated fats found in olives and avocados, as they have a positive effect on cholesterol health. Clear away the white, refined sugar and flour in favor of whole grains with the fiber intact. And look for creative ways to get the recommended five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Soups, juices and salads are tasty and easy to incorporate into the diet. For added insurance, try resveratrol, a supplement made from the skin of red grapes and other natural sources.  Recently, the TV news has cast a favorable light on resveratrol, catapulting it to celebrity status for its potential contribution to longevity. Scientists who study anti-aging have observed amazing cardiovascular results in test subjects, particularly noting resveratrol’s ability to protect blood vessels within the heart. Finally, don’t forget exercise. The heart is a muscle, and a thirty-minute walk brings oxygen and nutrients to all muscles, keeping them toned and healthy.

Bring On the Butcher's Broom

Butcher’s broom and cayenne sound like pretty cool supplements to take, but you might wonder why you’d even want them in your diet. Buy a bottle of butcher’s broom and leave it on your bathroom counter for your friends to see. When they ask what it is, you can impress them by letting them know that it is a member of the lily family of plants and is native to the area around the Mediterranean Sea.

Years ago, the plant, which has flat, stiff barbs on the ends, was used as a broom to clean the cutting boards of European butchers. Today, it’s thought that certain chemicals within butcher’s broom support circulatory health.

Supplements like butcher’s broom, cayenne, gotu kola, and horse chestnut are thought to act as a tonic, strengthening and conditioning the veins and arteries, and enhancing healthy blood flow to the organs.

Interested in learning more? One of the best ways to learn how supplements for cardiovascular health stack up is to read the product reviews. Swanson Vitamins offers detailed descriptions of all our circulatory herbs and provides unbiased reviews from people who’ve actually tried the stuff. While you’re there, check out the new products tab, where you can buy all kinds of neat things, including 100% certified organic spices like cayenne pepper! Check it out; you’ll be surprised at what you’ll find.

Walking the Walk of a Heart Healthy Lifestyle

If you suddenly feel pressure, heaviness, fullness, squeezing in the chest, pain in the shoulder, arm, back, neck or jaw that doesn't go away after resting, have cool or clammy skin and feel nauseated, you're either watching another horrible sitcom rerun, or having a heart attack. A lifestyle that doesn't include heart healthy habits could very well find you experiencing these symptoms. The best way to avoid finding yourself in this situation is to get up, turn off the sitcom reruns and enjoy some heart healthy exercise. If you like to draw attention to yourself, walk right past the escalator or elevator and take the stairs. You might be a little lonely out there (most people choose to take the escalator!) but you'll definitely be the talk of the town. Push some boundaries and take the stairs once in a while. Let ‘em stare all they want!

Some other ways to build up a heart healthy lifestyle include eating lots of f resh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and supplementing the whole thing with heart health supplements. Supplements like hawthorn berry, pomegranate juice, royal jelly, and even garlic can aid in your overall heart healthy lifestyle.

Did you glaze over at "take the stairs"? If so, don't worry. It takes a long time to overhaul major lifestyle changes, so just take one thing at a time. Start with heart healthy supplements like hawthorn berry and
gradually work a little exercise into your life. Instead of changing everything on your menu, make a few simple changes.

To "B" or Not To "B-12"

Having a B-12 deficiency doesn't sound all that serious. It's just one vitamin out of many, right? Well, if you're not getting enough of the vitamin B-12, you might notice a drastic drop in your energy levels. After all, vitamin B-12 is necessary to generate red blood cells. People who operate at deficient vitamin B-12 levels might come across as pretty cranky individuals. Of course, not all crankiness can be blamed on vitamin B-12 deficiencies, but if you're not feeling like yourself lately, try bumping up the B vitamins and see what happens.

Some doctors will suggest taking a vitamin B-12 complex to help curb certain symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Crying spells, confusion, memory loss, irritability and sadness related to the menstrual cycle might be improved by taking a daily dose of vitamin B-12. Of course, vita mins have a hard job to do, and you just can't expect them to carry the full load. Try to eat right, exercise regularly, drink lots of water and add a few heart health supplements to your diet to balance your system.

Vitamin B-12 supplements are affordable and easy to take, so there goes that excuse. Buy yourself some supplements, take the recommended dosage (if you're not sure, check with your pharmacist or naturopath) and work on all the little things in life that are going to go a long way in keeping you healthy and balanced, mind, body and soul.

Soy Long Tired Muscles!

When you're pumping iron, it's really important to keep those muscles fueled and (unfortunately) greasy foods and sugar treats aren't the answer. To get those muscles bigger, you first have to break them down. If you're a child of the 80s, you might remember phrases like "no pain, no gain" or "feel the burn." These days, we know that over-doing exercise isn't a good thing at all. When you're weight-lifting, you want to sear the muscle, not scorch it. Once that workout is over, it's vital to refuel the muscles. How? Soy protein supplements.

Soy (short for soybean) comes in a variety of forms including capsule and ground powder used to bulk up protein shakes. The 80s and 90s pushed people to do more, take more and be better than anyone else. These days, it's more about finding a good balance in life. Overworking your muscl es doesn't allow them a chance to recover from a strenuous workout. If you want to really see results from your workouts, allow muscles a day to rest before exercising them again and add soy supplements to your diet to help keep them fueled.

Will soy supplements give you extra-freaky muscle power? Not likely. Soy will, however, replenish nutrients to your muscles and just might even give your heart muscle a healthy boost.

How to Get the Heart Pumping

Do you roll your eyes every time you see a jogger running past your house? Wind, rain, sleet and Category 3 hurricanes can't keep a hard-core jogger home. Luckily, jogging isn't the only way to improve cardiovascular health. Honestly, you can improve cardiovascular health without running a marathon. Don't worry about what the latest media reports have to say. Essentially, more exercise is better than no exercise, and any activity that gets your heart rate up and keeps it there for at least fifteen minutes, twice a day, is considered part of a heart healthy lifestyle.

To help things along, try taking some heart health supplements like hawthorn berry (capsules) and some pomegranate juice. Recognized authorities have conducted tests that show a distinct benefit to taking these kinds of supplements to boost heart health. Afte r your workout, just mix a small amount of concentrated pomegranate juice into your water bottle and drink up!

To improve cardiovascular health, take up speed walking, smack a tennis racket around (preferably on the tennis court), start bicycling to work, try step aerobics, kickboxing or spin classes. Any activity that increases your heart rate and keeps it there for at least fifteen minutes a day will do wonders for your heart.

How to Become a Heart Healthy Free Radical Superhero

Unfortunately, the older we get, the more free radicals we encounter. That could mean elbowing political extremists out of the supermarket parking lot, but it most likely will mean dealing with the kinds of damaging compounds that break the body's cells down.

Fear not; there is a way to destroy those nasty free radicals. How? With a nutritional powerhouse of supplements combined with a heart healthy lifestyle. For example, hawthorn berry in capsule or tincture form blasts free radicals away from the heart, keeping it healthy. Hawthorn berry is actually considered a "cardiotonic" herb and has been used to strengthen the heart. In fact, an esteemed American university conducted several tests using hawthorn berry.

Another example of a heart healthy antioxidant includes pomegranate juice. The pomegranat e, a weird fruit with juicy, edible seeds inside, has huge health benefits when taken in concentrated juice form. It's said to act as a heart tonic, improving overall heart function.

So you see, even if fighting free radicals is in your future, with a few heart health supplements in your medicine cabinet, you could end up being the Free Radical Superhero of your generation.