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Vitamin K2 and Cardiovascular Health:
Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is a crucial cardiovascular nutrient. Vitamin K2 may help to avoid the calcium containing plaque buildup of coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease by ameliorating the risk and rate of calcification .1-3 No other compound- either a vitamin or a drug- has been shown to do this.6,7 Author K Rheaumr-Blue published the book “Vitamin K2 and the calcium paradox: how a little-known vitamin could save your life“. He says, “The secret to avoiding calcium-related osteoporosis and atherosclerosis- while millions of people take calcium and Vitamin D supplements thinking they’re helping their bones, the truth is, without the addition of Vitamin K2, such a health regimen could prove dangerous. Without Vitamin K2, the body cannot direct calcium to the bones where it’s needed; instead, the calcium resid is in soft tissue (like the arteries)—leading to a combination of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis, or the dreaded” calcium paradox.” Arterial calcification is considered an unfortunate result of aging, but we can impact this process by providing our body with vitamin K2. Two clinical studies were published, which evaluated the effect of vitamin K2 vs. placebo on arterial stiffness in healthy people. Results of one clinical trial, 4 showed that when taken daily in nutritional doses (18) in a healthy population, vitamin K2 (MK-7) lessened arterial stiffness. This study included 244 healthy postmenopausal Dutch women aged 55 to 65 years old. Vitamin K2 supplementation ( MK-7) not only suppressed arterial stiffening but also resulted in a statistically significant improvement of vascular elasticity, as measured by ultrasound techniques and the PWV (pulse wave velocity) readings seen in healthy adults. 4 Another clinical study also showed cardiovascular benefit after K2 supplementation in both men and women in a 1-year follow-up after beginning Vitamin K2 supplementation. This clinical trial study had 243 subjects participants between 40 and 70 years of age, who were characterized as at risk for cardiovascular disease due to vitamin K deficiency. The study subjects taking Vitamin K2 maintained arterial flexibility, and the stiffness did not increase over the year, whereas the placebo group showed a progression of further loss of arterial flexibility.5 This nutrient also lends vital support to patients with chronic kidney disease who are on dialysis and also to renal transplant recipients.8,9
MAGNESIUM AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
https://drsobo.com/magnesium-the-magnificent-mineral/
Magnesium is an essential mineral in the body, as it is a cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate many important biochemical reactions. It is involved in protein synthesis, blood glucose regulation, blood pressure regulation and muscle and nerve functions[1–3]. Magnesium is an essential element in the production and health of the skeletal system. It is necessary for energy production through its role in the breakdown of glucose to release energy. It is essential in the process called oxidative phosphorylation, also an essential energy producing process, and it is required for the synthesis of DNA, and the antioxidant glutathione. Magnesium is important to the passage of calcium and potassium across cell membranes, essential for normal muscle contraction, nervous system impulses and regulation of heart rhythm[3].
A 2018 review reported that magnesium deficiency increases a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Magnesium deficiency is common in people with congestive heart failure and makes successful treatment more difficult. And the use of magnesium as a part of treatment for congestive heart failure reduces the risk of arrhythmia– abnormal heart rhythm. People who received magnesium soon after a heart attack had a lowered death rate as a result. A 2019 meta-analysisTrusted Source, found that magnesium intake lowers a person’s risk of stroke. They reported that for each 100 mg per day intake of magnesium, it lowered stroke risk by 2%. Magnesium plays a role in hypertension. According to the Office of Dietary SupplementsTrusted Source (ODS), taking magnesium supplements modestly lowers blood pressure .
Omega-3 Fatty Acids https://drsobo.com/dha-epa/
Many studies have shown that eating fatty fish and other seafood is part of a healthy diet to help you to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.The American Heart Association (AHA) has officially recommended eating one to two servings of seafood per week to reduce your risk of heart disease. For people with heart disease, the AHA recommends consuming about 1000 mg per day EPA plus DHA, either from oily fish, or in supplements.
The cardiovascular benefits of omega 3 fatty acid intake are as follows
- Lowering triglycerides: High levels of triglycerides in the blood impart a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Improve circulation: relaxation of the endothelial cells that line blood vessels can improve the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues .
- Lower blood pressure: Omega-3s have been shown to may reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.
- Maintain a healthy heart rhythm: Omega-3s may lower the risk of cardiac arrhythmia.
The best way to get your omega-3 levels up:
- Eating fish.
- Take omega-3 supplements. Look for a 2:1 ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Important to note: The body doesn’t make omega-3s on its own, so you need to get them from your diet and/or supplements
Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish and other seafood and in plant sources
Fish and other seafood- salmon, tuna, mackerel, tuna, and sardines
Nuts and seeds – flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts
Plant oils- flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and canola oil
Fortified foods – certain brands of eggs, yogurt, juices, milk, soy beverages, and infant formulas)
Omega-3s are essential components of our cell membranes. Omega-3s also provide calories to give your body energy and have many functions in your heart, blood vessels, lungs, immune system, and endocrine system.