How to nourish your heart

The experts at Cytoplan tell us how omega 3 can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease

As one of the most vital organs in the body, our hearts deserve some love. Looking after your heart health is important in order to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) – a variety of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, including stroke, heart attack and vascular dementia.

Physical inactivity, tobacco use and the harmful use of alcohol can all contribute to CVD, but by embracing a healthy diet and lifestyle you can greatly reduce the risk and promote a healthy heart. Fortunately, the experts at Cytoplan are here to tell us how.

Heart health and fatty acids

One of the dietary changes that can have a particular beneficial effect on your cardiovascular health is to make sure you have a good level of omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. These are found predominantly in oily fish, but a plant-based alternative can be found in supplements made from marine algae.

It is thought that human beings evolved on a diet with a ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 of approximately 1:1, whereas in the modern western diet the ratio is closer to 20:1. Omega 6 fatty acids are found in high levels in the vegetable and seed oils and processed foods that are abundant in modern diets – and have the potential to promote inflammation.

Reduce inflammation in the body

While inflammation is a normal and beneficial short-term biological response to infection or injury, the long-term overproduction of inflammation can lead to tissue damage and can be the cause of many chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, such as hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Increasing your intake of dietary omega 3 can result in the incorporation of EPA and DHA into the walls of your cells, having a stabilising effect. This incorporation will also be at the expense of inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids, thus having the potential to reduce inflammation and the risk of chronic disease. Omega 3 fatty acids can exert a range of anti-inflammatory actions within the body, and as such, taking an omega 3 supplement can be very supportive for your heart health.

Protect your heart

As well as inflammation, another potential contributor to CVD is oxidative stress. This is when the production of free radicals (unstable atoms in the body) exceeds our bodies natural antioxidant defenses and can cause damage to cells and tissue, with the potential to directly impair the cardiovascular system. Chronic inflammation can trigger oxidative stress, and vice versa so an omega 3 supplement with antioxidant support has the potential to provide a broad array of protection for your heart.

One potent antioxident which may be particularly protective for the cardiovascular system is CoQ10. Through its antioxidant action it can help to support healthy blood pressure and its essential role in energy production can help to meet the huge energy demands of the heart muscle.

CoQ10 can also help to support the immune system and reduce the inflammation which contributes to CVD – so taking an omega 3 supplement which also provides antioxidant support could be a great step towards protecting your heart health.

Cytoplan’s Omega Protect provides an environmentally friendly and sustainable vegan source of omega 3 from algae and a unique mix protective plant antioxidants including CoQ10, grapeseed oil, oregano oil, rosemary oil and astaxanthin which, together, may help to support your heart health.