Top 5 Minerals for Heart Health

There are many minerals necessary for bodily function, but I wanted to highlight these big five. Read on to see why you need these critical elements of life and how to get them into your diet.

1. Magnesium

Magnesium is necessary for over 300 enzymatic functions in the body (enzymes are tiny proteins that speed up body processes). Sounds like a lot, that is why I listed magnesium first.

Magnesium help the heart relax (diastole) after a contraction (systole). Magnesium also lowers resistance in arteries and acts as a natural calcium channel blocker.

Magnesium regulates heart rhythm and is involved in numerous reactions related to controlling inflammation and cholesterol production.

Magnesium does not travel alone in its elemental form. It bound with other molecules to make mag sulfate, mag malate, and mag orotate for example.

Most people do not get near enough magnesium in their diet. You would be wise to do so with plenty of avocados, nuts/seeds, and green leafy vegetables. Check out this post with 10 Paleo Foods Loaded with Magnesium. One of my favorite magnesium foods is organic raw cacao nibs.

For more information about magnesium, check out this video.

2. Potassium

Potassium is well known among doctors for its necessary functions, but the public often forgets about it in favor of magnesium. But balance is key and get the balance by eating many of the same foods as magnesium.

Potassium regulates blood pressure and heart rhythm. In fact, the more potassium you consume the lower your blood pressure. Sadly, many blood pressure drugs deplete your potassium. Conversely, some can dangerously cause too much potassium.

Potassium is necessary for muscle relaxation and lowers your risk of stroke and kidney stone formation.

Get your fill of potassium from avocados, sweet potatoes, spinach and organic coconut water.

3. Manganese

Although you may not have heard of this mineral, don’t discount it. Manganese is a necessary element for insulin production and is part of SOD, superoxide dismutase, a CRITICAL anti-oxidant in the body. SOD keeps mitochondria young. This is huge.

Inflammation is heavily linked to heart disease so adequate anti-inflammatories are necessary. This is where manganese and SOD become so important.

Manganese is also needed to produce the amino acid proline, which then makes up collagen. Collagen is found in blood vessels, skin, and connective tissue in the body.

Manganese is found in shellfish, nuts, seeds and spinach. Try these canned mussels. Or another delicious option is these organic Macadamia nuts, loaded with manganese.

4. Selenium

Plenty of studies tell us this mineral is super heart-healthy. In fact, people with the highest blood selenium have a far lower risk of heart attacks.

The main reason heart attacks are lower is likely from lower inflammation due to selenium. You see, selenium is necessary to make glutathione, the body’s main antioxidant. Without selenium, no glutathione.

Heart health depends on thyroid function and selenium is a necessary co-factor for thyroid hormone creation.

Although shellfish and organ meats contain selenium, my favorite source is from organic Brazil nuts.

5. Iodine

You are likely familiar with the role iodine plays in thyroid health. Thyroid hormone cannot be made without iodine. Heart function needs thyroid hormone as does the production of stomach acid so we can digest our food.

Iodine is critical for breast health, immune system support, and to lower inflammation.

Find iodine in seafood such as clams, oysters and shrimp along with sea vegetables. Our Superfood contains plenty of iodine in the organic chlorella and organic spirulina.

Snack on seaweed for a delicious source of iodine. Kid love this too.

Supplemental sources of the above

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