The Number One Nutrient You Need For Heart Health

The word “inflammation” is thrown around a lot today in regards to nearly every chronic disease there is, including the number one killer in most industrialized nations: heart disease. But what exactly is inflammation and how do we combat it before it becomes a serious problem?

Inflammation is the word for various biological processes that occur throughout the body when the immune system starts attacking the body’s own healthy tissue. The reason this happens is because the immune system normally defends the body from perceived threats or injuries – like bacteria, viruses, wounds or pathogens – by temporarily releasing more white blood cells (sometimes called killer T-cells) to swell and heal the damaged area. The problem is that an influx of inflammatory proteins becomes harmful when this goes on for long periods of time, causing more and more pain, swelling and hormonal disturbances.

If the immune system remains in an overactive state over the course of many months or years, the body continuously releases fighter-cells or hormones that damage tissue, including those that effect the heart. This is called “chronic inflammation” and is a major problem in regards to heart attack, stroke and arteriosclerosis (thickening of the arteries) prevention.

In the world of “western medicine”, practitioners often focus on treating diseases by attempting to suppress symptoms, however this doesn’t get to the root of the problem which almost always goes back to some form of inflammation. In the case of heart disease, inflammation attacks the blood vessels, causes them to thicken and harden, effects the way the body processes and stores fats like cholesterol, weakens the heart muscle, and alters blood pressure levels.

Now that you know the underlying causes of cardiovascular diseases, let’s talk about how to reverse them naturally, without the need for prescription medications that can come along with dozens of side effects:

First and foremost, it’s important to know what triggers the body’s inflammatory process. Some of the root causes of inflammation include:

• A poor diet high in packaged, processed foods
• Lack of exercise
• High amounts of stress
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Bacterial infections
• Exposure to environmental toxins

One of the quickest and most impactful ways to lower inflammation and improve heart health is to focus on eating a nutrient-dense, unprocessed diet filled with whole foods. Anti-inflammatory foods include: vegetables, fruits, nuts/seeds, olive oil, whole grains and legumes, and lean proteins like fish, eggs and unsweetened dairy products (like yogurt). These foods provide vitamins, essential fatty acids, amino acids and electrolytes which help regulate heart beat rhythms, prevent high blood pressure and balance cholesterol.

Among the various nutrients that are important for cardiovascular functioning, omega-3 fatty acids are considered one of the best. The body requires various types of fatty acids for different functions – some promote inflammation (omega-6s) in the arteries, while others lower inflammation (omega-3s). We can get plenty of omega-3s if we eat a good amount of wild-caught fish and nuts each week, but many people still fall short. And it’s not just the amount of omega-3s we eat that’s important, it’s also about the ratio of omega-6s compared to omega-3s in our diet. Most people living in industrialized nations (where heart disease is a growing concern) consume far more omega-6s than omega-3s, which tips the scale in favor or more and more inflammation throughout the body. Omega-6s are found in nearly all packaged foods, low quality meat or animal products, and refined vegetable oils which are toxic.

To make up for low intakes of omega-3s in the diet, experts recommend all adults take a daily omega-3 fish oil supplement. Recently studies have shown an inverse association between fish intake/ omega-3 fatty acids and risk of dying from heart disease. Compared to women who rarely ate fish (less than once per month) and didn’t take fish oil supplements, the risk of death for those who did consume enough omega-3s weekly was up to 34% lower.

BalanceDiet™ Super Omega Three is one of the highest quality omega-3 products on the market today. These small, pure, and potent softgels are sourced from the highest quality raw ingredients and make it convenient to protect your heart by obtaining adequate fats.There are various fish oils available on the market today, but not all are created equal. QÜELL™ Fish Oil is a superior fish oil that’s usually available only to health care professionals. This product is unique among other fish oils because of its method of extraction, purity, bioavailability, and strong concentration. It’s also easily absorbed once taken, which is important considering we need essential fats to make their way to our digestive system before they can actually be utilized properly.

You’ll be happy to know that taking a daily omega-3 supplement not only supports cardiovascular health, but also neurological health, growth/development in children, vision health, and joint health. Buying from a reputable manufacturer means you’re getting the best quality ingredients and no undesirable compounds, fillers or toxic residues. BalanceDiet™ products are packed all- natural ingredients, never fillers or binders.

Another important tip: only purchase high quality brands of fish oil to reduce the “fishy smell” or “fish burps” that some inferior capsules can cause. How should you take omega-3 supplements such as BalanceDiet™ Super Omega Three? Take 2 capsules 20-30 minutes prior to mealtime with a tall glass of water. They are safe for long-term use and can be taken anytime of the day but are most effective when used twice daily.

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/omega-3/art-20045614

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=3054

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/106/21/2747.full