Nutrients and Additives Blogs

You know the omega-3 fat DHA is essential for heart health, but it's equally important for your brain. The best source of "brain food" is DHA sourced from microalgae. Here's what you need to know.

L-carnitine is still a winner. If anything from the earlier negative study is confirmed, I believe it will link gut bacteria with the overconsumption of meat that contains unnatural hormones, insecticides, and pesticides.

Vitamin D isn't just important for your bone health; it's important for your heart health, too. A new study reveals just how much. Are you getting enough vitamin D in your diet? Find out how much you need to protect your heart.
 

Recent headlines questioning the nutritional value of organic foods may have you wondering whether or not to go organic. Stop wondering and do it. Nutritional content isn't the only reason to go organic. Find out why.
 

It’s all over the news today. “Fish oil supplements don’t prevent heart attacks, study says.” “Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements May Not Help the Heart After All.” As a cardiologist, these types of headlines alarm me, because if people stop taking their fish oil we’re going to see a huge rise in all cardiac events. Plus, these findings aren't accurate...

It’s been all over the news. A study review published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that taking fish oil did not prevent heart attack or stroke survivors from having another cardiac event. That's not true, here's why.

The Dateline report raised questions about the quality and safety standards in the dietary supplement industry. This is something that concerns me as well. 

Many people ask their other doctors about the supplements and often, receive negative or indifferent answers such as “they may cause harm,” or “there’s no science.” Here's how to respond if it happens to you.

Vitamin C can help to delay the onset of cataracts by 10 years, and it help to promote immune, bone, and joint health. But perhaps most importantly, vitamin C supports your heart.

I can’t tell you how many CoQ10 products didn’t have anywhere near the strength that the label stated. So, what can you do to ensure you’re getting high-quality CoQ10, or any supplement for that matter? 

Many doctors, including cardiologists, are still in the dark about the heart-protective powers of niacin. But here’s what your doctor should be telling you about it.

Enjoy the many health benefits that come with incorporating omega-3s into your diet.

Most Americans are getting too little vitamin D, not too much. Here's why this vitamin is so important for your heart health...

If coenzyme Q10 was a drug, pharmaceutical companies would be fighting over the patent. Here's why this is so great for your heart.

Most doctors fail to test for vitamin B12. As a result, many patients are walking around with a deficit of this critical vitamin.

When it comes to nutrition, men and women have very different needs. Find out more...

Discover how important B vitamins are for your heart health.

Dr. Sinatra weighs in on marine-based omega-3 fish oil.

It’s not just the amount of salt you’re eating that’s detrimental to your blood pressure—it’s also the ratio of sodium to potassium in your diet. Here's what that means for you.

A reader wrote and asked, “I’m diabetic and have to stay away from sugar. What’s the scoop on artificial sweeteners?” My answer is that the scoop is negative.

The literature is loaded with studies demonstrating that herbs—like drugs—can trigger adverse and dangerous reactions with prescription medications. Here's how to keep yourself safe.

Many people hear the bad press about HFCS, but they don’t know exactly what’s so evil about it. Here's why it's public enemy number one.

While many of us might find taking multiple supplements challenging, it’s vital to remember that proper nutrition is essential to good health. Here are a few guidelines to make taking your vitamins easier and more effective. 

You’ve all heard it: diet sodas are bad news. Now, as we’re heading into the hotter days of summer, I encourage you to add sports drinks and sweet teas to the “don’t drink it list”…

I wanted to share some interesting news from a presentation I just made at the ExpoWest conference.  Humans and horses have a lot in common!  Both need CoQ10 and other heart nutrients.

For years, I've been informing people that eating healthy fish and fish oils has overwhelming health benefits.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a component of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil and algae, can literally get inside cardiac cells and calm the heart or decrease arrhythmia potential. This is probably why DHA, if taken regularly, helps prevent sudden cardiac death. 

If you’ve already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you’ve undoubtedly been advised to evaluate your lifestyle and start exercising. You may have been told to consider psychotherapy to explore unexpressed or unrecognized emotions like anger, fear, and anxiety. 

There are two vitamin Ks: K1 and K2. Both vitamins are important to bone and cardiovascular health, but vitamin K2 is the more beneficial of the two vitamins.

Discover the cardio-protective value of fish oil.

Magnesium is essential to healthy heart function, yet low magnsium is a severely underdiagnosed condition.

Drugs can interfere with CoQ10-dependent enzymes, lowering its concentration in the body. I’ve seen many patients who are deficient in this nutrient. Listed below are some prescription drugs that can deplete CoQ10.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a key ingredient in my core nutritional program for reducing heart risk factors. I simply would not practice cardiology without it

Niacin occupies a central role in my supplement arsenal against arterial disease. That’s because it lowers smaller LDL cholesterol particles but, more importantly, it superbly raises larger HDL particles and also helps you to maintain a low triglycerides level.  Niacin also helps your body to manage the very dangerous cholesterol component, Lp(a).

Tumeric's yellow color comes from curcumin—a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that’s been found to reduce the excess platelet aggregation that occurs in sticky, clot-forming blood. Curcumin also helps keep NF-kappa B, a protein complex involved in the body’s inflammatory reactions, in check.

Patients dealing with cardiovascular problems often ask me if the newer form of CoQ10 supplement, ubiquinol, is better than the form used in most supplements, ubiquinone.

Often called the “miracle nutrient” or the “universal antioxidant,” CoQ10 exists in the mitochondria—or power plants—of our cells, and scavenges and destroys free radicals that cause heart disease and other cardiovascular problems.

Folks, anyone with any cardiovascular problems should absolutely take fish oil; healthy people should also take it as a preventive measure.

When considering targeted nutritional supplements for lowering blood pressure naturally, there’s no room for a “one size fits all” mentality.

Insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, can lead to weight gain and high blood pressure levels. You can combat insulin resistance by adhering to healthy cardiovascular nutrition and getting support from the right nutri­tional supplements.

If you suffer with cardiovascular problems or suffer from chronic hypertension, you should know about hawthorn and garlic.

Getting an adequate amount of magnesium and calcium is crucial for good cardiovascular health.

There are natural ways to lower blood pressure. They involve good cardiovascular nutrition, as well as simple lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation. Lowering blood pressure naturally is possible, but it takes commitment and the willingness to make some changes.

Being deficient in vitamin D, as well as phosphate, appear to limit our body’s ability to absorb the calcium we are taking. 

Not only has recent research muddied the water in terms of how much and what kind of calcium we should be taking, it suggests that other elements—like vitamin D and vitamin K2—are more important.

Resveratrol, commonly found in grapes and other plants, is being studied for its antioxidant properties and its ability to minimize cardiovascular problems. That’s why I encourage my patients to drink grape juice and red wine, both of which are made with grapes (in moderation, of course). You can also get resveratrol in supplement form. I recommend 2–5 mg of resveratrol daily. I also encourage my patients to drink flavonoid-rich green tea.

Not only has recent research muddied the water in terms of how much and what kind of calcium we should be taking, it suggests that other elements—like vitamin D and vitamin K2—are more important.

Resveratrol, commonly found in grapes and other plants, is being studied for its antioxidant properties and its ability to minimize cardiovascular problems. That’s why I encourage my patients to drink grape juice and red wine, both of which are made with grapes (in moderation, of course). You can also get resveratrol in supplement form. I recommend 2–5 mg of resveratrol daily. I also encourage my patients to drink flavonoid-rich green tea.

Not only has recent research muddied the water in terms of how much and what kind of calcium we should be taking, it suggests that other elements—like vitamin D and vitamin K2—are more important.

There’s evidence that regular supplementation with L-arginine supports smooth muscle relaxation within the arterial wall. L-arginine is thought to be the primary source for the production of nitrogen molecules involved in maintaining the elasticity of blood vessels. Research has also shown that L-arginine may be helpful for people with high LDL cholesterol levels and for men who suffer from impotence.

D-ribose supplies heart cells with energy and so much more.  It is a simple five-sided sugar that supports the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) levels in cardiac and skeletal muscle. ATP also aids the heart’s muscle contraction. The more it contracts, the more blood it accepts.

I have long considered CoQ10 a wonder nutrient because of its ability to help prevent cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are not substitutes for a proper diet, but even the rare American who eats a balanced diet does not get the amount of nutritionals needed to combat the toxins and heart risk factors that threaten his/her health. This is why it’s critical that you take a quality multivitamin/mineral supplement with antioxidants every day with your meals. It’s just smart cardiovascular nutrition.

If you eat at least five to nine servings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day, you will, on average, take in enough carotenoids to meet your body’s needs. But this can be a challenge. That’s why it makes sense to take out additional “insurance” with supplements to be sure you’re giving your body the cardiovascular nutrition that it needs to help you avoid heart risk factors.

While eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are necessary in your attempt to control blood sugar, these are not the only components of my “Natural Remedies for Diabetes.” Diabetes is, in part, a nutrient-wasting disease. Elevated levels of glucose act like a diuretic and cause substantial loss of nutrients in the urine. Therefore, people living with diabetes are likely to be deficient in several important vitamins and minerals.

In my last post, I discussed CoQ10. Now I'd like to discuss its partner, L-carnitine. Together, they form a "dynamic duo," with the ability to help promote healthy blood pressure levels and to reduce a wide variety of heart risk factors.

Dr. Sinatra discussed what the best forms of magnesium are at a cardiology-focused conference sponsored by the California Naturopathic Doctors Association.

The finding on CoQ10 protecting the brain in the rat model is consistent with our own son’s undergraduate research project on CoQ10. Drew confirmed earlier research which found that mice taking CoQ10 are more energetic, daring, and exploratory.

Dr. Sinatra tracked down emerging research showing that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)—a nutrient he already puts everyone but their brother on—had a preventative effect against Alzheimer’s in the animal model. He began to feel that maybe there’s a way we can steal some thunder from this avaricious disorder of the brain after all.

Grape juice, like red wine, can help prevent blood clots and improve blood circulation.  Resveratrol, commonly found in grapes and other plants, is being studied for its antioxidant properties and its ability to minimize cardiovascular problems.  The “Dr. Sinatra recommended dosage” of Resveratrol is 2–5 mg daily.

People who take statin drugs should also take certain supplements to promote heart and overall health.

You must have adequate vitamin D levels for optimum health. If you are already diagnosed with cardiovascular problems, you can prevent complications, and perhaps turn your condition on its tail, by addressing your vitamin D status. Ask your doctor to get a level if it hasn’t been done.

 Vitamin K2 gets calcium in the bones, where you want it, and out of your arterial walls, where you certainly don’t want it. Thus, K2 is crucial for both bone and arterial health and is a godsend for individuals with blood circulation problems and other heart risk factors.

A review published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care strongly suggests that a vitamin D deficiency could be a risk factor for cardiovascular problems.

We have received several comments expressing a concern on proper supplementation—which nutrients are important, the right dosage, getting the biggest bang for your buck, etc.  A good multivitamin and mineral formula should contain, among other nutrients, significant levels of antioxidants, calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and folic acid.

Niacin help promote a healthy cholesterol ratio.

Explaining the difference between two forms of CoQ10: ubiquinol and ubiquinone.

Which nutritional supplements can help lower blood pressure.