Healthy Heart, Healthy Life: Ways to Reduce your Risks of Cardiovascular Disease

February 23, 2022

Did you know that the leading cause of death in the United States each year is almost always attributed to heart disease (with cancer sometimes usurping the #1 spot every few years)? In fact, the CDC estimates that every 36 seconds, someone is pronounced dead of cardiovascular disease.¹ This works out to be roughly 659,000 people in the US each year - or one in every four deaths. And all types of individuals are susceptible (no one group is inherently excluded or immune). Those are some scary statistics! 

Don’t give up hope, though! These dismal numbers actually have a very bright silver lining. The American Heart Association estimates that nearly 80% of cardiovascular disease (including heart attack and stroke) are preventable.² Prevention is key. Prevention starts with paying attention to the signs of heart disease, reducing risk factors, and taking care of our hearts. One way that we can show a little more love to our organ of love is to support it nutritionally. More on that below after we first look at some of the key risk factors and indicators of likelihood for developing heart disease.

Below are some key risk factors for heart disease and suggestions for helping to reduce and/or eliminate them from your life.

• Diabetes - see your doctor for annual checkups and bloodwork to make sure your A1C levels are staying within a healthy range. Type II diabetes is preventable in many individuals and manageable for those who have developed diabetes.
• Obesity - individuals who are overweight or obese tend to have a higher propensity for developing heart disease (in addition to other illnesses). The good news is that obesity is reversible in the vast majority of cases. Diet and exercise are two of the most common ways to lose weight. Weight loss on our own is not always easy, so it’s important to surround yourself with accurate information when it comes to getting healthy and individuals who want to see you succeed and have the expertise to help you reach your health goals. Our Metabolic Majic Kit provides 28 days of nutritional guidance and support to help individuals reach their goals on their own time and terms.
• Unhealthy diet - make no mistake, while oftentimes “diet” and “weight” go hand in hand, it is a very real possibility that an individual who is at a “healthy weight” can still develop heart disease. Heart disease doesn’t care how much you weigh. Heart disease cares about the quality of foods and nutrients you do (or don’t) put into your body
• Physical Inactivity - the age old saying “if you don’t use it, you lose it” applies well here. A healthy heart is an active heart. Now, don’t mistake “active” for meaning you have to  go out and buy a $200 pair of running shoes and sign up for a marathon next weekend. Physical activity can be as simple as taking a walk around the block, easy laps at your local YMCA pool, a slow flow yoga class, or taking the “long route” to get to the bus stop to pick up the kids in the afternoon. Gradually, build up your activity levels as your time allows and your endurance allows.
• Excessive alcohol use - we all know the negative effects of alcohol far outweigh the good ones. The heart is no exception. When it comes to alcohol, less and sparingly is better for a healthy heart

The bottom line is that a healthy heart is critical for a healthy, long life. What you put into your body matters - this includes both foods and supplements. Let’s talk first about nutritional supplements. Nowadays, unless we’re eating a perfectly curated and crafted diet, it’s very difficult to get all of the nutrients that our bodies need to function at max capacity on a recurring daily basis. Unsaturated fats such as Omega 3, 6, and 9 provide numerous health benefits. Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are essential fats that our bodies cannot produce on their own. We must obtain them from outside dietary sources. Oily fish such as salmon are one of the most abundant sources of dietary Omega 3 fatty acids. 

Since eating fish at every meal is neither realistic nor is it necessarily a healthy long-term sustained dietary habit (you would likely lack the needed balance between other food groups and nutrients), supplementing with a high quality Omega oil is a simple, easy way to support our hearts with enough fatty acids to function at maximum efficiency. Metabolic Research Center offers two Omega supplement options that can be incorporated into virtually any dietary routine: Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) Supplement and Total Woman Oil Supplement. Both supplements provide essential Omega 3’s and 6’s for a healthy body and heart. Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) supplements contain enteric coated capsules that prevent the dreaded “fish burp” that is synonymous with “fish oil” supplements. The secret is in the enteric coating that allows the supplement to travel further down the digestive tract before dissolving. Later release equals no fishy aftertaste! Total Woman Oil supplements contain added Omega 9’s and have the bonus of providing additional support specific to a woman’s unique body to help support a healthier heart, immune response, and weight loss. Both are available through the Metabolic Web Store.

For those that are looking for a little more comprehensive support for a healthy heart, the Heart Health Bundle is for you! This hand-picked bundle contains four of our best-in-class supplements designed to support a healthy heart for a healthy life: Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) supplement, Metabolic Super DIM, Vitamin D3, and Ubiquinol CoQ10.

So, we’ve talked about supplements to boost your diet and intake of essential nutrients such as essential Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, but that’s only one part of the dietary puzzle. To provide well rounded support for your heart, you need to eat the things that are better for your heart, too. As far as what you eat goes, most professionals agree that diets that are overall lower in saturated fats (stick to healthy fat sources such as nuts, avocados, and olive oils), high in fiber, and high in lean protein tend to be better for the heart than those filled more with heavily processed foods that can contain high amounts of saturated fats, sugars, and not nearly enough fiber and protein. Now, that’s not to say you can’t enjoy a fast food meal from time to time, but it’s best to strive to limit your intake of these heavily processed foods and keep them out of your regular meal rotation as much as possible.

Not sure where to start when it comes to “eating healthy?” Well, with an endless number of resources, plans, and so called “experts” out there when it comes to healthy diet and weight loss, it can be confusing to know where to start and what is and isn’t actually healthy. If you’re like many individuals, you may be somewhere between wanting “a little more guidance” but not looking to join a full blown weight loss program. While Metabolic Research Center offers a variety of weight loss programs and menus that are accompanied by full support and guidance from a team of professionals, we’ve also got some options for those that aren’t quite there yet and prefer more of a “guided DIY” approach. If that second option sounds more like you, then you need to check out the 28 Day Metabolic Majic Kit. This best-selling kit comes with everything you’ll need to start making changes for a healthier life - at your own speed and pace!

A healthy heart isn’t an all or nothing proposition, and there are no guarantees in life. But, there are proven steps that can be taken to support a healthy heart. Metabolic Web Store is here to support you in those endeavors with the highest quality supplements produced in certified GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facilities. The first step is taking care of the organs that take care of you, and just see how much more vitality you exude from life! So, do your research, consult with your doctor, and get started on a regimen that’s right for you today.