Taking good care of your body means that you are able to
maintain adequate amounts of the minerals, vitamins and
nutrients that are needed to ensure a totally healthy
well-being. Also, it is very important to note that the heart
requires a significant amount of attention too, in order for it
to be able to function well and be able to have a healthy
circulation of blood around the body. When the heart is healthy,
it is able to respond efficiently to the body’s changing needs
for oxygen and nutrients, which vary with different activity
levels throughout the day and night. There are several vitamins
and minerals that specifically support the heart in these
important tasks.
Potassium is a mineral that is quite important to how the heart
can function more properly. At the most basic level, potassium
is essential to the rhythmic, smooth and continuous pumping of
the heart. This is because potassium supports the nerve
transmissions and greatly takes part in making sure that every
muscle in the body gets to move. Potassium greatly helps in
regulating a person’s heartbeat.
Aside from being an important factor in keeping our teeth and
bones healthy, Vitamin D is also important to the heart’s health
and its ability to function properly. In fact, recent research
has showed that meeting the standard recommended daily intake
levels of Vitamin D can significantly reduce the risk of death
caused by heart failure. Sufficient intake of Vitamin D has been
connected with reducing inflammation, which is a common cause of
heart disease. Vitamin D also plays an important role in the
ability of the heart to pump blood efficiently, as well as
affects the structure of the cells located in the heart.
Children need between 200 and 300 International Units of Vitamin
D per day. Adults should have about 400 International Units per
day, with those over 55 years of age, actually need to increase
their dosage to 800 International Units. It is, however,
important to not take Vitamin D in excessive amounts, as it can
negatively affect one’s health.
Selenium is another mineral that is important to the function
and health of the heart. Together with Vitamin E it actually
serves as an important antioxidant in addition to its role in
keeping the tissues of the body flexible. Selenium also offers
protection against diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Lack
of selenium in the body has been connected to various types of
heart diseases and conditions including an enlarged heart and
compromised heart function in children. For adult males,
selenium intake should be about 70 micrograms per day while
adult females should have a selenium intake of about 55
micrograms daily.
Magnesium actually helps the heart with its muscle contractions
by regulating the neuromuscular activity that assures a regular
heartbeat as well as its role in helping the body to make the
most out of potassium and calcium - both of which also affect
heart health and function. Adult men should have about 350mg of
magnesium per day and adult women need 280mg daily. Depending on
a child’s age and weight, the standard recommended amount of
magnesium are 130mg and 240mg each day.
It is important to note that there are nutritional supplements
that can greatly help a person when it comes to having a good
bill of health. However, keep in mind that moderation is key
when it comes to taking care of one’s health. Nutrient
supplements may seem harmless at first glance but it can
actually prove to be quite harmful to one’s health once taken in
considerably excessive amounts.
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About Author :
Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information
about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.besthe
althlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all
health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.n
et/
