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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Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: [http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/] or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: [http://www.besthealthlink.net/]
