12 Powerhouse Nutrients for a Healthy Heart

Whether you have some form of cardiovascular disease, a family history of it, or just want to prevent future problems, these science-backed supplements can help strengthen and protect your heart.

- By Jonny Bowden

Every year, I write at least one column listing my top supplements for heart health. I try to do this without looking back at what I’ve written before. But when I finally do reread what I wrote the previous year, I’m always amused to find that the list doesn’t change that much.

So here’s this year’s list of superstar heart supplements. A good supplement plan isn’t the only thing you’ll need—far from it—but it’s a great addition to a heart-healthy lifestyle. These supplements are an excellent place to start.

1 COENZYME Q10. The heart needs a lot of energy. It never takes a vacation and beats approximately 86,400 times a day, day after day, year after year. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) literally “recharges” the energy production factories—known as mitochondria—in the cells. It’s needed to generate the “bitcoin” of cellular energy, ATP. The cells use ATP to power everything you do. ATP is needed to pump your blood, burn fat, snore, digest food, dance the rhumba, blink your eyes—every single operation in your body requires ATP, and CoQ10 helps make it. Ubiquinol, the active form of CoQ10, has been shown to be better absorbed and utilized by the body.

2 PANTETHINE. Pantethine, the active form of pantothenic acid, is the most important component of CoQ10, and some research supports its use for lowering high cholesterol levels. Look for products featuring Pantesin, a proprietary form of pantethine that has been clinically studied and shown to help promote healthy cholesterol levels.