Heart and Blood Pressure

HEART HEALTH

The heart is one of our most vital organs. For decades, science has tried to investigate and understand heart disease to the best of its ability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the leading cause of death remains cardiovascular disease (1-3). Despite all research and immense drug development to prevent cardiovascular disease, the incidence and prevalence of people with too high blood pressure keep rising (4). Over time, this might cause severe heart disease, heart failure and even damage to other organs, such as the kidneys (5).

Cardiovascular risk factors not only increase in the elderly population, but also in the younger, and even (young) athletic population (6).

Risk factors of cardiovascular disease: absent to miniml physical activity, obesity, unhealthy nutrition, smoking, diabetes, chronic stress or anxiety (7). The underlying cause of all these risk factors seems to be due to inflammation in the vessel walls and the simultaneous fat accumulation in the blood vessels. This fat accumulation in vessel walls is called atherosclerosis.

Seeing lifestyle and diet play an important role in reversing or even preventing cardiovascular disease, natural nutrients have become more and more popular.

Marine Phytoplankton contains a combination of antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, unique natural pigments, essential amino acids, peptides, vitamins, minerals, and other substances that support the heart (8-9).

The body cannot synthesize these substances themselves, so you want to get them through your daily nutrition. Moreover, studies show that with our diet alone, we are not able to obtain sufficient amounts of these substances through our usual diets (10). Especially omega-3 fatty acids have shown to have positive effects on the cardiovascular system: Did you know that Marine Phytoplankton is a primary producer of omega-3 fatty acids? No need to consume fish-oil when Marine Phytoplankton offers you the source of these essential fatty acids.

What does science say about marine phytoplankton?

Numerous studies suggest that various types of nutrition in Marine Phytoplankton can have a positive influence on the heart and blood vessels. Marine Phytoplankton is a primary producer of omega 3 fatty acids (O3FAs), unique pigments, peptides, and many vitamins and minerals (11-14). These components have separately shown antihypertensive properties, capable of lowering blood pressure. The substances in Marine Phytoplankton are able to exert various effects, such as:

- Directly lowering blood pressure by inhibiting ACE-enzyme (15). This is the same principe as in ACE-inhibiting medication (16)

- Directly lowering blood pressure by causing vasodilation - widening of vessels (17-20).

- Neutralizing inflammation to prevent excessive collateral damage to the heart and vessels (21-28).

- Preventing formation of harmful blood clots (29-31).

- Inhibiting the deposition of plaques in the artery wall (32-34).

- Reducing cholesterol and triglycerides, preventing their accumulation in the vessel wall (35-37).

- Improving blood vessel functioning and improving its elasticity (38).

- Stabilizing heart rate and heart rhythm (39).

Omega's

Omega-3 fatty acids might prevent or slow down the development of heart disease or heart failure by inhibiting inflammation. Interestingly, higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids seem to be associated with a significant lower blood pressure in young and otherwise healthy people (40). Did you know that algae, and not fish - are the source of these fatty acids? (41)

Marine phytoplankton contains unique pigments: carotenoids

Carotenoids are a class of natural fat-soluble pigments founds principally in plants, and in uniquely high concentrations in algae (42). We humans are not capable of synthesizing them, which makes it necessary to incorporate them in our nutrition. One of the most important carotenoids in Marine phytoplankton is beta-carotene (43-44), astaxanthin (45-46), fucoxanthin (47-51), lycopene (52-56), and many others (57-58). These carotenoids each have unique anti-hypertensive and anti-oxidative properties.

What makes the carotenoids even beneficial for our health and heart is their additional antioxidative (detox) effect (59).

Don’ forget, nutrition is just one piece of the puzzle, don’t forget to:

1. Move and exercise more (60)

2. Lower your sodium intake (61)

3. Don't smoke or stop smoking (62)

4. Try to prevent anxiety and deal with stress (63)

5. Take a conscious look at your nutrition and supplements. Bad nutrition is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (64). As mentioned before, our typical diet is lacking substances that could support our cardiovascular system.

COnclusion

we need to minimize risk factors as much as possible by implementing a healthy and conscious lifestyle and diet. However, seeing out typical daily diet is lacking substances that support our heart, consider adding Marine Phytoplankton to your daily diet. The nutrients in Marine Phytoplankton offer numerous potential effects that prevent or counteract cardiovascular disease .

Lastly, this is not a replacement of antihypertensive medicine. Always consult your medical doctor before replacing Marine Phytoplankton as a natural antihypertensive medicine.

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References

Please click below to see which scientific articles were used to gather information concerning the subject.

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