Love Your Heart with Provascin
By Christine Cheng, R.Ph. and Fred Cheng, R.Ph.
February usually brings thoughts of roses, chocolates, and heart-shaped everything! But, let us not forget about our actual hearts, which pump to keep us alive to love and enjoy everything and everyone around us. A healthy lifestyle is the best way to keep your heart healthy. Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean sources of protein. If you smoke or use tobacco products, stop! Do some form of exercise for 30minutes on most days of the week. If you’re overweight, losing weight will reduce the load on your heart. Get good quality sleep. Find ways to manage (if not eliminate) the stresses in your life. Consider supplementation to increase your chances of beating the odds.
Purica (makers of Recovery®) makes a supplement called, PROVASCIN, which contains various nutraceuticals to support heart health in men and women of all ages. CO-ENZYME Q10 (CoQ10) is included to help with arterial relaxation, which can result in decreased blood pressure. L-CARNITINE is an amino acid that aids in energy production. Its supplementation appears to improve symptoms of and exercise tolerance in those with angina and/or congestive heart failure. ALPHA-KETOGLUTARIC ACID is reported to be able to bind ammonia in the blood and thus reduce its potential to damage the heart, blood vessels, brain, kidneys and other tissues. BETAINE is a derivative of the amino acid glycine that can lower levels of homocysteine, another amino acid that can damage arteries and potentially lead to atherosclerosis and blood clot formation. CHAGA is a medicinal mushroom with adaptogenic properties, i.e., it can help the body adapt to stress, thereby mitigating a risk factor for heart disease. ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID is an antioxidant that can decrease blood glucose levels, which is important because high blood glucose levels can cause a process called glycation in the blood vessels that can lead to stiffening of the arteries.
Although this supplement has a good track record in terms of safety, please check with your healthcare practitioner prior to starting any supplement, especially if you are currently taking a blood-thinning medication.
(Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore. They would love to hear from you or meet you at one of their seminars. Of course, before you begin any activity program or try any OTC supplementation, check with your physician and pharmacist.)
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