More women fear breast cancer than any other disease. Yet cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims over ten times as many women’s lives as breast cancer. In fact, CVD is the nation’s leading cause of death for both men and women. That’s the bad news. The good news is that CVD is almost entirely preventable. nutraOrigin, makers of high quality vitamins for women, shares the secrets of cardiovascular wellness. What influences cardiovascular health? One way to support cardiovascular health is to play by the numbers. All five of the following measurements tell you something about the state of your heart. Cholesterol: excess cholesterol gets deposited in, and narrows, the artery walls Triglycerides: elevated triglycerides are associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease Blood pressure: high blood pressure puts stress on the artery walls and increases the heart’s workload Homocysteine: too much homocysteine degrades the structural integrity of the arteries C-reactive protein: elevated C-reactive protein is associated with a higher risk for hypertension and CVD Risk Factor Desirable Borderline Undesirable Total cholesterol Below 200 200-239 240 and above Triglycerides Below 150 150-199 Above 200 Blood pressure Below 120/80 120/80-140/90 Above 140/90 Homocysteine Below 10 mmol/L 10-18 mmol/L Above 18 mmol/L c-reactive protein (CRP) Below 1.0 1.0-3.0 Above 3.0 Supplement secrets for heart health Everyone knows that eating a healthy, whole foods diet and getting regular exercise are important for cardiovascular wellness. But did you know that select nutritional supplements can also make a big difference? Here are three to consider. CardioBalance Developed by nutraOrigin, Cardio Balance features 10 mg of high quality policosanol. Multiple studies indicate that natural policosanol provides a worry-free way to support healthy cholesterol levels. Cardio Balance features policosanol from sugar cane – not the rice or wheat used in lower-quality products – which is the only form of policosanol proven to deliver cholesterol benefits. This policosanol supplement is produced using a proprietary, all-natural extraction process that delivers the highest quality finished product. Omega-3 Essentials Chances are you’ve heard about Omega 3 fatty acids, because they’re good for so many things. At nutraOrigin, we believe supplementing with Omega 3 fish oil, or Omega 3 for short, is one of the best things you can do for your heart. Here are just some Omega 3 benefits: • Helps maintain healthy levels of triglycerides and C-reactive protein • Promotes a desirable blood pressure • Supports a regular heart rhythm You can buy these essential fats as liquid Omega 3 oil, but most people prefer the convenience of Omega 3 pills. Whichever Omega 3 supplement you choose, just keep in mind that quality differs tremendously among different brands. nutraOrigin’s Omega 3 pills are highly concentrated, purity-certified, readily absorbed, and stabilized with antioxidants. Nutra Multi Iron-Free Because so many vitamins and minerals are essential for heart health, taking a comprehensive multivitamin like nutraOrigin’s Nutra Multi Iron-Free is a great way to take care of your heart. This one multiple contains: 1. a plethora of antioxidants, which protect against free radical damage, 2. the trio of B vitamins known to support healthy homocysteine levels, and 3. magnesium, essential for the integrity of the heart muscle. The experts at nutraOrigin recommend taking all three formulas together for maximum synergistic effect.