Last week, I told you about how a popular, pennies-a-day supplement can offer you DOUBLE PROTECTION against cancer and deadly cardiac events, like heart attack and stroke.
And now, the news about this popular supplement just got even better…
Another study found that taking it can lower your resting heart rate (RHR) in just eight weeks!
I’ll reveal what the supplement is in just a moment. (You may already be taking it as part of your regular routine!)
But first, let’s back up to discuss why your RHR matters so much…
Your resting heart rate is vital to good health
For most healthy, adult women and men, a RHR falls within a “normal” range. When your resting rate falls within this range, it tells us that your heart can do its job…without being overworked.
On the flip side, a higher RHR can signify an increased risk of heart attack and death. Because it means the heart works harder, even at rest, to pump blood and nutrients around the body.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to naturally improve your RHR…
First and foremost, get moving!
As always, try to engage in some light-to-moderate exercise (which gradually raises your heart rate) for about 140 to 150 minutes total per week. And remember, doing work around the house and yard all count toward this weekly total.
On the contrary, excessive exercise (which I call “excess-ercise”) can actually HARM your heart! (Not to mention your tissues, joints, GI tract, genito-urinary system, and even your eyes, too.) That’s why moderation, simplicity, and consistency is the key!
Second, think about eating more wild-caught fish and seafood…and adding a fish oil supplement to your regimen. That’s because, as this new study found, the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, seafood, and fish oil supplements can trigger some MAJOR improvements in your heart health in just eight weeks…
Improve your heart health in just eight weeks!
Researchers with the University of Wollongong in Australia looked at the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)—the two most-studied omega-3 fatty acids—on RHR.
First, they recruited 20 healthy adults (with an average age of 27 years). Then, they randomly assigned the adults into two groups…
The first group took a daily fish oil supplement that contained 560 mg of DHA and 140 mg of EPA. The second group took a soy oil supplement—which contained no fish oil at all—to act as a control. (Of course, we should keep in mind that soy oil probably didn’t act as a completely neutral placebo. Instead, it may have caused its own effects.)
Then, at the study’s outset and after eight weeks, the researchers tested the participants’:
- Omega-3 Index (a blood test that measures DHA and EPA levels)
- Resting heart rate
(Your Omega-3 Index, like your RHR, is a good indicator of heart health. Specifically, an Omega-3 Index score higher than 8 percent puts you in the “low-risk zone”—with a very low risk of suffering a sudden cardiac death. A score of 4 to 8 percent puts you in the “intermediate-risk zone.” And a score lower than 4 percent puts you in the “high-risk zone,” which translates to a 90 percent higher risk of suffering a sudden cardiac death. Unfortunately, most Americans fall within the high-risk zone.)
Well, it turns out, the participants in the fish oil group increased their Omega-3 Index scores from an average of 5.3 percent at the start of the study to 7.5 percent. And that increase reflects a 42 percent improvement…in just eight weeks!
The best part? This study involved healthy, 20-somethings. So, imagine the need for supplementation for heart health in your 50s, 60s, 70s—and beyond!
In addition, the fish oil group decreased their RHR by an average of five beats per minute. Researchers said these short-term heart benefits mimicked the effects seen when someone begins an exercise program.
In the end, it appears that taking a moderate dose of fish oil helps the heart achieve homeostasis (a healthy balance) in a remarkably short amount of time. Even among healthy, young adults!
So, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to add it (along with some light-to-moderate exercise) to your healthy routine.
Just remember that fish oil supplements are meant to literally supplement your diet. This means the amount of fish oil you should take depends entirely on how much fish and seafood you regularly eat during the week. In other words, there’s no “one–size–fits–all” dosage recommendation…as I reported last week.
For more insight into natural ways to protect your heart as you get older, I encourage you to check out my Heart Attack Prevention and Repair Protocol. This innovative, online learning tool outlines the natural pathway to low blood pressure and a healthy heart…without ever taking a dangerous heart medication. To learn more, or to enroll today, click here now!
Sources:
“DHA-Rich Fish Oil Increases the Omega-3 Index in Healthy Adults and Slows Resting Heart Rate without Altering Cardiac Autonomic Reflex Modulation.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition, published online 8/11/21. doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2021.1953417
“What is the Omega-3 Index?” Omegaquant, 7/9/2018. (omegaquant.com/what-is-the-omega-3-index/)