Vitamins for Heart Health

Diet is the most important factor for a healthy heart but vitamins and supplements are the best kind of insurance. Switching to healthier foods can often be a long process which makes vitamins crucial if you have heart disease or are at risk for it. The following vitamins and supplements are definitely worth investigating if you are worried about your heart health.

Vitamin E

There are many types of vitamin E but the tocotrienol form is thought to be especially helpful in lowering cholesterol, thus encouraging a healthy heart. This is one of the best vitamins for inhibiting cholesterol production. Vitamin E is a great choice for people who have high cholesterol despite of diet changes. The recommended dosage is twenty five to one hundred milligrams per day.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is another of the best vitamins for heart health. A deficiency in this essential vitamin may be a key factor in the development of heart disease. It can be taken as part of a multivitamin complex or a B-complex supplement. The recommended dosage is twenty five to fifty milligrams of B6 per day.

Magnesium

This mineral is one of the best for heart health. A deficiency of magnesium is thought to cause heart disease, heart attacks and irregular heart beat. It helps decrease plaque formation, lowers total cholesterol and raises the amount of "good" cholesterol. The recommended dosage is five hundred to one thousand milligrams per day.

Niacin

This is another of the greatest vitamins for heart health. It is a B vitamin that lowers cholesterol but it can be limited by the uncomfortable flushing effect it causes. An alternative to niacin is inositol hexaniacinate which does not cause this flushing even at high doses and provides the same results as other forms of niacin with no side effects. The recommended dosage is fifty to one hundred milligrams taken three times per day.

Coenzyme Q10

This is an antioxidant which is similar to other vitamins for heart health. It helps in the energy production of cells and improves the level of "good" cholesterol. It is also believed to decrease angina and raise tolerance to exercise and physical activity. The recommended dosage is one hundred to one hundred and fifty milligrams per day.

Before adding any of these vitamins to your heart health regimen, first consult a physician to make sure they are safe for you and to discuss the appropriate dosage for you and your individual condition.