Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
Heart failure is one of the most terrifying things you can come up against.
Not only does it threaten your life, but it’s also incredibly hard to reverse.
So you’re forced to spend your life avoiding stairs, uphill walks or anything that could get your heart rate up.
Fortunately, recent research shows you don’t have to live this way.
You see, there’s a common vitamin that can help boost your heart health — even if you’re already suffering from heart failure.
And believe it or not — it’s 100% free and available even in the most remote parts of the world.
This heart-healthy freebie is vitamin D, and it’s available anywhere the sun shines.
Researchers studied 160 patients who were already suffering from heart failure and were using heart treatments like pacemakers, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers.
The participants were split into two groups. One group took vitamin D3 supplements, and the other took a placebo for one year.
After the study, scientists found that some folks who took the vitamin D3 supplements improved their heart functions by close to 10 percent.
This may not seem very significant, but when you consider folks with heart failure in this study had an average of 26 percent heart function, these findings could have a tremendous impact.
Even better, experts involved in the study reported that folks who suffer from heart disease could lower their need for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a surgically implanted device that can shock the heart back into rhythm.
To get more vitamin D3, simply go outside and bask in the sunlight for at least 15 minutes a day.
But be warned: Things like age, season and location can prevent you from getting the daily dose you need. In fact, older folks need to be extra careful, since their bodies make less vitamin D from sunlight than younger people do.
This means taking a D3 supplement is your best bet if you want to keep your heart going strong all year long, no matter your age and location.
And don’t forget, if you want to get the most out of vitamin D3, take it with vitamin K2. These two nutrients together can protect your heart and keep your arteries healthy.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: nmoore@lfb.org – and click here to like us on Facebook.
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