This week’s blog post was pu
t together by our Chief Research Consultant, who, in my opinion, knows everything there is to know about the best supplements for extreme health. So…without further ado, here are the big five:
1. Multi: Not just any multivitamin, but one that has Vitamin D3 in it, and a whole slew of other good stuff.
A good multivitamin (100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) of all the vitamins and minerals) can help supplement the diet and ensure daily vitamin intake as it’s nearly impossible to eat enough fruits, vegetables or whole foods in a normal diet to get the same effect. Be sure your multi has B vitamins, A, C, E, and Folic acid. There are also “whole foods” vitamins, “green” vitamins and heart specific vitamins for special needs.
Fortified foods are often fortified with Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), the plant form. Make sure that your supplement has Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) in it, the superior form of Vitamin D. If it is not listed on the label as “cholecalciferol,” you may not be getting Vitamin D3.
Vitamin D3 is the preferred form of Vitamin D: the form that the human body utilizes. Some of the health benefits include: the reduction of inflammation, support of the immune system, and support of bone health by promoting calcium absorption.
2. Omega-3s: Not just a “fish oil” supplement, but a marine oil, omega-3 product with high purity and potency of EPA and DHA.
- I can’t say it enough. Taking fish oil is not the same as taking pure EPA and DHA. A very large, long-term study of over 11,000 people that recently had a heart attack, showed that taking omega-3 fatty acids can be heart protective and increase your chances of living longer.1
- EPA and DHA are responsible for heart health, improved brainpower, improved eye sight, better skin, hair and nails; it’s used to lower cholesterol, lessen symptoms of arthritis and inflammation, and improve general health and well being overall. EPA and DHA are miracle molecules. But you cannot just buy any over-the-counter stuff. You need to read the label. Make sure the product is rated for safety (remember, fish has mercury in it. When a supplement is created from the oils of fish, the process can safely extract those harmful toxins), and potency (the higher the concentration of EPA and DHA the less fishy substance within each capsule).
3. CoQ10: CoQ10 is an antioxidant and co-enzyme that has been shown in studies to promote heart function as well as a slew of other things. It may be one of the most important nutrients that you take for the heart, and for improving your body’s ability to heal.
- CoQ10 is mostly used for the prevention of heart disease and for strengthening the heart for individuals who suffer from heart disease. But CoQ10 has also been known to help immune deficiencies, increase fertility, treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, reduce ringing in the ears, delay aging, improve skin, and increase athleticism and overall energy.
- Take 200mg of CoQ10 per day for enhanced health benefits.
- For patients with high blood pressure and various heart problems, CoQ10 has been shown to improve heart function and many people that took CoQ10 required less treatment (less medicine) as a result of the improvements in heart function. 2 3 As always, discuss taking CoQ10 with your physician as part of your treatment plan to improve heart function.
4. Resveratrol: According to a study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, “Wine drinkers had significantly lower mortality from both coronary heart disease and cancer than did non-wine drinkers.”4
- What’s in red wine other than alcohol that is so cardioprotective? Answer: a little antioxidant known as resveratrol, which has multiple benefits for the health of the blood vessels and arteries.
- Resveratrol helps inhibit the oxidation of the LDL cholesterol that damages the arteries.
- Resveratrol, because it’s an antioxidant, also helps protect both the brain and arteries from “oxidation stress” or free radical damage implicated in Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular disease. 56
- Scientific evidence suggests that resveratrol may help you live longer, which makes it an anti-aging supplement. How so? It activates the “SIRT1” gene. Therefore, its ability to promote living longer is what makes resveratrol unique and sets it apart from other antioxidants. Its longevity health benefit by activating SIRT1 is unique and independent of its general action as an antioxidant and is what makes resveratrol stand out. It is a supplement for longevity.
5. Fiber: Fiber, or most notably Psyllium seed husks, is a must. You cannot live (comfortably) without a decent amount of fiber in your daily diet.
- Fiber helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level when used as part of the diet (which slows blood sugar spikes) and it may help weight loss by promoting a full feeling. Fiber encourages regularity, healthy and timely elimination, and colon health.
- Fiber intake and more notably psyllium have also been shown to reduce cholesterol and improve heart health.
- Psyllium seed husks are derived from the seeds (a rich source of soluble and insoluble fiber), of a plant commonly referred to as psyllium.
- Fiber from psyllium produces beneficial short-chain fatty acids (butyric acid) that may help protect the digestive health of those with Ulcerative Colitis.
There are a few notable mentions, which should also be seriously considered a part of your diet: calcium, magnesium, selenium, a probiotic (for intestinal health), whey protein and, of course, water, the most important nutrient of earth. Make sure to consult your physician before taking any supplement; he or she can educate you further on the great benefits. Happy supplementing!
Coming up next week: Foods for your heart: The top ten best foods ever for preventing heart disease
References:
1. The GISSI-Prevenzione trial
2. Treatment of essential hypertension with coenzyme Q10. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15 Suppl:S265-72. Scientific Abstract, available for free. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7752851
3. Usefulness of coenzyme Q10 in clinical cardiology: a long-term study. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15 Suppl:s165-75. Scientific Abstract, available for free. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7752828
4. Type of alcohol consumed and mortality from all causes, coronary heart disease, and cancer, Ann Intern Med. 2000 Sep 19;133(6):411-9, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10975958
5. Oxidized lipoproteins may play a role in neuronal cell death in Alzheimer disease. Mol Chem Neuropathol. 1998 Feb;33(2):139-48, Scientific Abstract, available for free http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9565971
6. Protective effect of resveratrol on beta-amyloid-induced oxidative PC12 cell death. Free Radic Biol Med. 2003 Apr 15;34(8):1100-10. Scientific Abstract, available for free. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12684095
Tags: Top Five
My name is Greg Keiper and Ive used the Rescue 1250. I had read the research and was following the radio program for a number of years and I am convinced that a high intake of EPA and DHA has unparalleled benefits in helping to control and alleviate heart disease. It appears to have a host of benefits that are still being explored!
I happen to be a lupus patient, kidney transplant and have undergone multiple surgeries. I have a large chunk of metal in my right wrist. Due to the prostaglandin content of the fish oil, the pain that was present in that wrist is to a minimum, allowing me to function quite normally. My kidney doctor is quite happy with my taking the fish oil. It seems that the prostaglandins in the fish oil are safe for my transplant, apparently this isn’t the case with prostaglandins derived from aspirin as I’m discouraged from taking that. I appear to be getting some kind of anti inflammatory benefit without the downside(s) associated with NSAIDs! I call that the win win!
I do have one complaint about the Rescue 1250 product. My complaint is that when I use it I burp up a terrible fish flavor. One of your consultants recommended that I keep it in the freezer. That does help with the first dose taken in the morning although burping does result even in that instance. The problem is compounded, by the fact that I take multiple doses of medication throughout the day, and of course I would like to take the fish oil caps at the same time and spread them out across the day as well. I carry the pre-poured medication/supplements on my person so that I can take them as required. By the time I take the second and third doses of fish oil, they are at body temperature and I’m prone to burping them. Combined with my tendency for reflux the consequences of taking the fish oil is not tolerable.
I recommend that you provide enteric coating for the fish oil capsules. I hope this idea gets noticed by one of your decision makers at ResQ…