A: Yes, there are, and some of them may be surprising. The key to good heart health is to curb inflammation, poor circulation, and nutritional and emotional stress. Chronic inflammation is the heart-weakening end result of our excesses: too much work, overexercise, and poor eating habits. Here are some tips to quench the fire that’s linked to plaque formation in your arteries. [sidebar]Sleep at least 7 to 8 hours each night. Make stress management a regular practice, with 10 minutes of daily meditation or a weekly massage session. Focus more on staying active. Multiple bursts of activity throughout the day are more conducive to heart health than marathons. Constant vigorous exercise can cause inflammation. Take a few heart-healthy supplements to boost circulation and keep blood pressure in check, including magnesium (400 mg daily in its chelated form) and nattokinase (100 mg daily), an enzyme derived from soybeans that improves blood flow by decreasing “stickiness” in the blood. Also add a B-complex supplement and 100 mg of coenzyme Q10, which supplies energy to your cells and prevents clots, to your daily regimen. (Confused by supplements? Check out our ultimate guide.) Check your diet. Even the healthiest diets may not be heart-friendly. Vegetarians and vegans can develop heart disease because they are often deficient in B vitamins and healthy fats. A heart-healthy diet should be low in saturated fats but high in omega-3 fats (such as these healthiest sources), antioxidants, and B vitamins. TASNEEM BHATIA, MD, is medical director and founder of the Atlanta Center for Holistic & Integrative Medicine. Send your questions for Dr. Bhatia to askdrtaz@prevention.com.
