Most heart health supplements come with lofty promises of ultimate well-being but deliver dismal results. This lack of transparency makes the distinction between beneficial and toxic supplements quite challenging and puts millions of consumers at risk of ingesting poisonous substances.
In light of this, we’ve compiled a list of the 4 heart health supplements you should take and 2 to avoid.
Table of Contents
1. Heart Supplements You Should Take1.1. Lingonberries: The Edible Jewels
1.2. Chaga: The Icon of Mushroom Goodness
1.2.1. Who Should Avoid Chaga?
1.3. Astaxanthin: The Mighty Superfood
1.4. Sea Buckthorn: The Berry With Sea-wide Goodness
2. Heart Supplements You Should Avoid
2.1. Calcium
2.2. St. John’s Wort
3. Bottom Line
As you read on, you will learn:
- How organic lingonberry supplements can help in balancing cholesterol levels in your blood and prevent severe consequences of blood pressure
- The abundant compounds and nutrients of Chaga mushroom and its astounding power to support the heart and reduce blood sugar levels
- The unmatched efficacy of astaxanthin and its ability to improve heart health, and boost immunity
- Why you need to be cautious about taking calcium supplements as well as St. John’s Wort
- Who should not take Chaga
1. Lingonberries: The Edible Jewels
Wild lingonberries from the evergreen Nordic natural forests are rich in anthocyanins—an antioxidant that helps in preventing blood cholesterol oxidation and maintaining the health of blood vessels.
Although lingonberries don’t necessarily reduce blood pressure, they do minimise damage by strengthening your blood vessels, which is vital in preventing heart-related conditions.
Natural lingonberries are juicier than other berries—such as blueberries and cranberries— and richer in phytochemicals, which protect you from excessive oxidation.
Here is a table to help you see the differences between organic and synthetic supplements.
| Organic supplements | Synthetics supplements |
| Are real food | Mere flavoured chemical compositions |
| Clean and nutritious | Laced with hazardous additives and unuseful fillers |
| Natural and sugar-free | Full of sweeteners and preservatives |
| Naturally absorbed into the body and eliminated efficiently | Leave toxic residues in the body |
| Less contraindicated against medications | More likely to interact with medications |
2. Chaga: The Icon of Mushroom Goodness
Commonly known as, inonotus obliquus this mushroom grows on birch trees in cold climates, such as the Nordic forests. Our Chaga superfood comes from Estonia, where it grows deep in the wild, away from human and industrial interference.
Organic Chaga is rich in glucans (Beta-D), which help reduce blood cholesterol and sugar levels, and control your immune system.
Additionally, its chitin walls are the source of polysaccharides, which maintain blood sugar levels and support heart, liver and gut health.
Chaga’s great effect against inflammation (free radicals) comes from its abundance in compounds such as betulinic acid and ergosterol peroxide.
Betulinic acid is renowned for combating malignant diseases, which Chaga absorbs from the birch trees it grows on.
2.1. Who Should Avoid Chaga?
As a general rule, avoid Chaga if you:
- Have osteoporosis
- Have kidney problems
- Are taking blood thinners
- Are on medication for glucose management
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Are suffering from an autoimmune disease
💡 Expert Tip: Add a maximum of two spoonfuls to your favourite recipe for best results.
- Consult your doctor before incorporating Chaga into your diet because it can react with other supplements or medications or prevent the absorption of other substances.
- Taking high doses of Chaga over a long time may damage the kidneys.
- Chaga’s calcium ingredient may prevent the formation of kidney stones by attaching themselves to oxalates and passing them out with the urine.
3. Astaxanthin: The Mighty Superfood
Hailed as a powerhouse superfood and the most active supplement against oxidative stress and free radicals, natural organic astaxanthin drastically reduces swelling and irritation and boosts your immune system, resulting in the fortification of the body against inflammatory ailments such as heart disease.
Astaxanthin’s small molecular size enables it to cross the blood-brain barrier to deliver its antioxidant payload, which works to abase reactive oxygen on the cell membranes of the brain, nerves and other organs.
This carotenoid helps to improve your heart health by reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) and increasing good cholesterol (HDL). Additionally, astaxanthin is highly effective in controlling blood pressure.
4. Sea Buckthorn: The Berry With Sea-wide Goodness
No berry rivals the sea buckthorn in amino acid diversity. It’s the only plant that contains all four omegas (3, 6, 7 and 9), making it another one-step superfood.
The organic Nordic sea buckthorn’s positive effects include guarding the heart, checking glucose levels, relieving stomach ulcers, reducing mood disorders and oxidative ageing, and preventing skin damage.
Another flavonoid richly present in sea buckthorn’s leaves and seeds, Quercetin, promotes heart health by lowering blood pressure.
Sea Buckthorn is also rich in:
- Biotin
- Folate
- Antioxidants
- Vitamins B1, B2, B6, C and E
According to recent studies, sea buckthorn reduces your cholesterol level if you have poor heart health; its oil is active in lowering blood pressure by preventing blood clots. The result is a healthy heart for you.
💡 Expert Tip: Get your routine supplements from natural organic sources only.
- If you suspect yourself or a relative of having mood disorders, visit a doctor; do not take or recommend any supplement.
- Allow your body to get sufficient vitamin D from the sun to help in calcium absorption into the bones.
- Avoid over-the-counter pharmaceutical supplements unless prescribed by a medical practitioner.
See what consumers of LOOV Food products are saying:
Heart Supplements You Should Avoid
1. Calcium
Calcium is crucial for bone strength and heart health, but excessive intake of synthetic calcium supplements can create blockages and constrictions in your blood vessels, which may result into a cardiovascular event or cerebrovascular incident.
Federal government-funded research showed that pharmaceutical cranberry supplements (tablets) and processed juice might cause kidney stones.
On the other hand, organic cranberries are a rich natural source of calcium. Therefore, get your authentic calcium from natural sources only to protect and nourish your heart and body.
2. St. John’s Wort
This plant is taken as a tea or capsule to alleviate disturbances in sleep, mood disorders, and mild emotional distress. However, St. John’s Wort has a severe drug interaction disadvantage which calls for caution when considering it.
For instance, according to the NCCIH,taking St. John’s Wort alongside medications for mood disorders can trigger a fatal upsurge of the serotonin chemical in the brain.
Furthermore, St. John’s Wort may minimise the efficacy of other medications such as contraceptives, ARVs and chemotherapy. It can also affect drugs administered to facilitate organ acceptance.
Just to Be Sure
Always seek your doctor’s advice before taking any supplements—even the good ones. Let your doctor test your blood for nutrient deficiency and decide on the best supplement to complement your current health status and medication regime.
