Several ingredients are known to improve and restore heart health and prescribed by physicians worldwide. Among the most important natural ingredients are omega 3 products that come from certain fish oils.
Omega 3s were first lauded for their effect on the cardiovascular system more than four decades ago and remain as crucial today in helping to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease. Sterols and stanols come from plants and can reduce cholesterol levels.
While omega 3s, sterols and stanols have become the staples of heart health, research is continuing into the potential benefits of other products.
Among them are the likes of walnuts and almonds – a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition has hailed the unique nutrient profile of nuts and their ability to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Probiotics, known as “good bacteria”, are best known for their help in protecting the digestive system against “bad bacteria” but the Canadian firm Micropharma has developed a probiotic that has been shown in clinical trials to lower cholesterol levels. Their ingredient, Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242, is now available for use in food products and supplements having been given approval by the US Food & Drug Administration.
Chocolate might not be the first substance to spring to mind when thinking of potential heart health benefits but cocoa flavanols have been shown to have the same effect as beta-blockers in reducing blood pressure. Research and development is continuing into the potential use of the flavanols in medicine.
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