(NaturalHealth365)  Heart trouble is one of the most prevalent problems of health facing the Western world.  Yet, there is much that you can do to avoid it and protect your heart, and you can do it naturally.  Eating a heart-healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise plus natural sunshine are the foundations of good heart health.

But, let’s not forget the power of essential nutrients to help support heart health – especially for those on prescription medications.  Of course, it’s very important to work with an experienced integrative physician to design an appropriate protocol.  For example, vitamin C, magnesium, and CoQ10 are all heart-healthy nutrients that will keep your heart in excellent condition for a long time to come.

Why should you care about vitamin C?

C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation, which is thought to be a significant predictor of heart problems.  One of the many benefits of vitamin C for the heart is its ability to reduce the amount of C-reactive protein in the body.  In fact, according to Dr. James Enstrom from the University of California, just 300 mg per day of vitamin C can reduce the risk of heart issues by 50 percent.

Another benefit of vitamin C is its ability to prevent peripheral artery dysfunction.  The Journal of the American Heart Association says that low levels of vitamin C are associated with painful peripheral artery disorder in the legs, where the arteries get blocked, which can lead to heart issues.

Magnesium is a key mineral for heart health

There are plenty of benefits of magnesium, too, when it comes to improving the health of the heart.  According to cardiologist Steven Sinatra, MD, magnesium is essential for proper muscle function, and since the heart is a muscle, a lack of magnesium can lead to heart function problems of all kinds.

When someone supplements with magnesium daily, the benefits of magnesium to the heart become apparent before too long.  It keeps your heart muscle smooth, its function strong, and maintains a proper balance of other minerals in the heart to keep it healthy.

Great news for heart patients: CoQ10 has a positive effect on the heart

The European Journal of Heart Failure reported that daily supplementation with CoQ10 can improve even the worst cases of heart function and reduces the risk of hospitalization.  Just 100 mg of CoQ10 – taken three times a day – significantly reduces the risk of heart issues and actually improves heart function over the course of two to three years.

Heart dysfunction patients who take CoQ10 daily enjoy extended lifespans and better quality of life.  This nutrient is so powerful for the health of the heart that it is expected to soon become a regular part of cardiologist recommendations to their patients.

A heart-healthy, organic diet combined with the benefits of vitamin C, magnesium, and CoQ10 can keep your heart in excellent shape for a lifetime.  So make sure you eat right, stay physically active, and get enough of these beneficial heart-healthy nutrients in your diet.  You will be glad you did.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
DrSircus.com