Get ready to heart health month - expert advice

Hello, February is health health month and the perfect time to take simple steps to support cardiovascular health. Nutritionist Cassandra Burns, The Nutri Centre’s resident health expert, offers four simple diet and lifestyle tips. 1) Magnesium may help to regulate blood pressure and heart rhythm. Potassium can also help to lower blood pressure. Try: Viridian’s Potassium Magnesium Citrate - £6.00 30 capsules 2) Coenzyme Q10 may help to lower blood pressure and may also help to decrease levels of total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Try: Solgar “Nutri Nano CoQ10”. £27.84 50 capsules 3) Garlic May lower cholesterol levels through inhibiting its production in the body. Garlic may also help to reduce high blood pressure by helping to relax the blood vessel walls. Try: Lamberts High Strength Garlic tablets - £12.95 90 tablets 4) Fish oil can be helpful for many cardiovascular conditions including abnormal blood clotting and high blood pressure, partly due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidants help to prevent damage to the good fats in the fish oil and in the body, may help to prevent damage to blood vessels that can initiate the build-up of fatty deposits. Try: Lamberts “OracOmega” capsules - £16.95 120 capsules All the above supplements can be purchased through The Nutri Centre – www.nutricentre.com or call – 0845 602 7197 Food/lifestyle tips: 1) Exercise! Even 20 minutes three times a week can be helpful – but see a doctor before embarking on any exercise program. 2) Eat more vegetables and fruit! Fresh vegetables and fruit are high in potassium, which can help to regulate blood pressure. Include the following: celery; bananas; potatoes with skins (limit to 1-2 times a week); dates or raisins; tomatoes – especially tomato paste; avocado (also high in good monounsaturated fats and vitamin E which can help to thin the blood). Fresh or dried fruits – especially dark-coloured berries and red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants to help to prevent damage to blood vessel walls. 3) Eat plenty of good fats! – oily fish, avocado and extra virgin olive oil (cold-pressed to make sure the good fats are not spoiled). 4) Balance blood sugar! - by minimizing sugary foods and refined carbohydrates (white bread and pasta, white rice, pastries, crisps, cakes etc.) and making sure that you eat some healthy protein foods with every meal: good examples include oily fish, raw unsalted nuts and seeds, and beans and legumes (lentils, chickpeas etc.). Uncontrolled blood sugar levels cause more insulin to be released into the blood, which may in turn increase production of cholesterol by the liver. The Nutri Cente is the UK’s leading supplier of nutritional and complementary products. www.nutricentre.com For imagery or samples please contact Carolanne Bamford or Charlotte Dormon at CCD Public Relations. T: 020 7434 4100 E: carolanne@ccdpr.com / charlotte@ccdpr.com Best wishes, Charlotte Dormon CCD Healthcare PR