Can herbs boost your heart health? There are numerous herbs that are known to promote good circulatory health and provide other benefits related to cardiovascular health. Here’s a look at the top 5.
Green Tea Extract
Green tea is well known as a heart healthy herb. Green tea leaves are different from black teas in that they have not been oxidized. The oxidation process used to make black tea depletes some of the antioxidants naturally present in the leaves. Antioxidants provide benefit to all of your body’s systems because they help prevent and repair free radical damage that plays a role in cellular aging.
The antioxidants in green tea leaves are unique. They are called catechins. Supplements containing green tea catechins have been shown to lower total cholesterol levels and to lower “bad” LDL cholesterol without decreasing good HDL levels. High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease.
Mahonia leaves are less well known but should be included on a list of herbs for heart health. The leaves contain alkaloids that have been shown to improve circulation and also have anti-inflammatory activity. Inflammation plays a role in atherosclerosis, the most common form of cardiovascular disease.
Mahonia extract may also help to balance blood sugar levels, which could be beneficial for type II diabetes. Having poorly controlled type II diabetes is also a risk factor for the development of heart and circulatory diseases.
Like many of the other heart healthy herbs, ginkgo biloba is accompanied by other health benefits due to its antioxidant activity. Ginkgo leaves promote good circulation which is why the supplements are often recommended for improving memory.
Resveratrol is not an herb but it still belongs on this list. It is a unique antioxidant found in red grapes and a plant commonly called Japanese Knotweed. Resveratrol may be the reason that red wine is good for heart and circulatory health.
Many benefits are associated with the use of resveratrol. Those related specifically to cardiovascular health include reducing inflammation, lowering blood sugar levels, reduced risk of blood clots, inhibition of plaque formation, stimulation of nitric oxide activity and reduced uptake of LDL cholesterol.
Turmeric is a spice plant used extensively in Asian cuisine. The plant contains a compound called curcumin which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Supplements containing turmeric or curcumin may reduce your risk of heart attack due to the multiple effects the nutrient has on the cells of the body.
So there you have 5 heart healthy herbs to choose from. There are a few supplements that contain all or most of them. Give your cardiovascular health a boost with these powerful herbal extracts today.