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    Heart health supplements

    Heart health supplements

    With the wide range of health supplements claiming to benefit heart health, you may be confused with selecting a suitable product for yourself.

    Let's take a closer look at the list of common heart health supplements:

    1. Fish Oils 
    2. Garlic 
    3. Flaxseed Oil 
    4. Red Yeast Rice 
    5. Vitamin E 

    1.  Fish Oils 

    Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people, those at high risk of heart disease, or those who already have heart disease. Studies done by the American Heart Association (AHA)ยน has shown that omega-3 fatty acids lower the risk of heart diseases. The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids include:

    • decrease risk of irregular heartbeats, which can lead to sudden death
    • decrease triglyceride levels, type of cholesterol
    • decrease growth rate of fatty plaques, which can block your blood vessels
    • lower blood pressure slightly

    The AHA recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish) at least once to twice a week. 

    • Fish is a good source of protein and does not have high saturated fat, which are found in fatty meat products.
    • Fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, tuna and salmon are high in two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

    Did you Know?
    Omega-3 may interact with blood thinners such as aspirin or warfarin to cause excessive bleeding. If you are taking any medicine, discuss with your pharmacist before starting omega-3 supplements.

    2. Garlic 

    Garlic appears to hold promise in reducing cholesterol, blood pressure and the risk of blood clots from forming. These are all associated with heart disease. However, more in-depth and appropriate studies are required to confirm these findings.

    3. Flaxseed Oil 

    Flaxseed oil contains Alpha-linolenic acid (LNA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid which can be converted into active forms of omega-3 fatty acid (EPA, DHA) in the body. The AHA recommends tofu and other forms of soybeans, canola, walnut, flaxseed and their oils. More studies are needed to determine the relationship between alpha-linolenic acid and heart disease.

    4.  Red Yeast Rice 

    Since the 1970s, human studies have reported that red yeast rice lowers cholesterol levels. It contains several compounds collectively known as monacolins, which prevents cholesterol formation. If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and have prescribed medicine for it, you should not substitute the medicine for red yeast rice.

    5.  Vitamin E 

    Studies do not support the use of antioxidant supplements, such as Vitamin E, in reducing blood pressure, lowering blood cholesterol or replace the need to stop smoking to reduce your risk of heart disease.

    Hence, Vitamin E is not recommended in the prevention of heart disease. Instead, antioxidant rich food sources, especially from plant-based food such as fruits, vegetables, whole-grain foods and vegetable oils are recommended.

    Talk to our pharmacist or doctor before taking any health supplements to reduce the risk of drug interactions.

    Remember that health supplements are NOT meant to substitute your prescribed medicine, good nutrition plans and regular exercise regime.

    Updated Aug 2023

     

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