According to the American Heart Association, one good thing for those with heart problems must do is have the right diet. You can almost call it a heart patient diet. You may have heard about diet like the grapefruit diet, cardio diet, cabbage soup diet, etc.
While these are great, as someone who has heart disease, there are also some essential nutrients your body must have. They are magnesium and calcium. Magnesium and calcium are both essential nutrients that protect the heart and nervous system. Neither of these essential minerals is gotten in abundance from the typical American diet full of fats and proteins and low on fiber, grains, and vegetables. Although the link between anxiety and heart disease is now well established, it wasn’t until fairly recently that it was recognized by mainstream medicine.
So how can cardiovascular health be improved with calcium and magnesium? Both are essential to maintaining a well functioning central nervous system. Brain and nerves that are not well nourished can exaggerate depression and anxiety; both of these can in turn aggravate heart disease.
Both calcium and magnesium play a direct role in blood pressure regulation. Recent studies have shown that magnesium in particular may protect against stroke and coronary heart disease. Adequate magnesium protects against abnormal heart rhythms and increases the amount of exercise that can be tolerated by those with heart disease. Studies have also shown that magnesium can have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system by stopping blood from clotting. Anxiety and even migraines can be relieved if magnesium deficiencies are corrected.
Although both calcium and magnesium are essential for heart and nerve health, an over abundance of calcium can lower the amount of magnesium that is absorbed. Because nutritionists have long extolled the benefits of calcium, Americans generally get enough in their diets though dairy and other sources. So, now is the time to concentrate on getting sufficient amounts of magnesium.
Whole foods are generally a better source than supplements because the magnesium in food is more readily absorbed than the calcium in supplements. To benefit the heart, magnesium rich foods help both nerve function and heart health. Diabetics and drinkers of alcohol may be especially prone to magnesium deficiencies. Anxiety and tight muscles is often a sign of less than sufficient levels of magnesium.
Good sources of magnesium if you are a fast food lover include baked potatoes and refried beans. Those who want to increase magnesium should increase beans, whole wheat, and vegetables. The best sources are certain fish including halibut and tuna, seeds and nuts including pumpkin seeds and peanuts, and vegetables including spinach and broccoli. Black beans, navy beans and other beans are excellent sources. Next time you make soup, add beans. Try a dip with refried beans, cheese, and onions for a tasty dip.
Tomato paste is another great source. Hummus, made with magnesium rich chickpeas, with whole-wheat flatbread is guaranteed great source of magnesium for the heart and cardiovascular system.
Do your nerves and heart a favor and increase the magnesium in your heart patient diet.
Monique Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality, natural, alternative health products to treat and prevent heart disease. To learn about how to prevent and treat heart disease naturally, visit her blog for weekly tips at heart patient diet
