Healthy ageing

Jayney Goddard: Healthy Heart

Our columnist explores how to look after this major organ and warning signs to look out for

It goes without saying: if you experience chest pain of any kind – or any pain that radiates down the left arm, or up to the jaw, and you feel ‘fluey’, sweaty, clammy – or ‘just not quite right’, it is essential to get medical help.

However, if you’re suffering from chest pain and your doctor has ruled out a potential heart problem, combining home remedies with a heart-healthy lifestyle may help bring pain relief and maintain heart health.

As well as following a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains and plenty of fibre, maintaining good hydration and regular exercise, cutting out alcohol and smoking, here are a few additional suggestions.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce your risk of heart arrhythmias such as Atrial Fibrillation (AF), reduce your triglyceride levels, reduce the progression of atherosclerosis and lower your blood pressure.

Pomegranate juice

According to the world-renowned cardiology centre – the Cleveland Clinic, research shows pomegranate juice may help lessen “bad” cholesterol (LDL) in your blood. It may also help inhibit or decrease plaque build-up in your arteries, which can cause reduced blood flow to your heart.

Capsaicin

According to a 2015 study, published in the respected journal Open Heart, capsaicin has a vast range of heart-protective benefits: from increasing exercise time in people with angina (when applied to the chest area) and slowing the development of atherosclerosis to lowering the risk of metabolic syndrome, reducing blood pressure and regulating blood sugar. It is also said to diminish the risk of heart muscle thickening.

Garlic

Both fresh garlic and garlic supplements have been used for years to fight heart problems. A study in the Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research has illustrated that garlic extract may help prevent plaque build-up in the arteries and even reverse heart disease.

CoQ10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a substance your body makes naturally and is vital for heart health. As you age, your body manufactures less CoQ10. Reduced levels have been linked to chronic heart failure. It may also help lower blood pressure and prevent exercise-induced chest pain.

Curcumin

According to a 2013 review of clinical trials, published by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, curcumin may help reduce inflammation that leads to heart disease. It can reduce total cholesterol and “bad cholesterol” (LDL) in the body while elevating “good cholesterol” (HDL) – this helps prevent atherosclerosis.

JAYNEY GODDARD is president of the Complementary Medical Association. Find out more at the-cma.org.uk. Sign up for Jayney’s 21-Day Rewind Plan and track your own biological age progression at JayneyGoddard.com

Article by

Jayney Goddard

President of the Complementary Medical Association

is the president of the Complementary Medical Association

Discover more

Article by

Jayney Goddard

President of the Complementary Medical Association

is the president of the Complementary Medical Association

Discover more