3 Nutrients Your Heart Will LšŸ©·VE!

Youā€™ve heard about fiber and omega-3s, but what about these hidden gems for your heart?


šŸ©· Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 acts like a traffic controller for calcium. It helps direct calcium to where it belongsā€”your bonesā€”reducing the risk of arterial calcification.. Food sources: Fermented foods (especially natto), hard cheeses, and egg yolks.


šŸ©· Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Your heart works 24/7, and CoQ10 is essential for keeping it energized. It powers your heart cells and protects them from oxidative damage. Itā€™s especially important for anyone taking statins, as these medications can lower CoQ10 levels. Food sources: Fatty fish and organ meats.


šŸ©· Magnesium

Known as ā€œthe great relaxer,ā€ magnesium supports heart health by relaxing blood vessels and maintaining healthy blood pressure. Food sources: Leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate.


While you can get these nutrients from food, supplements can sometimes fill in the gaps. But supplements arenā€™t one-size-fits-allā€”they can interact with medications or other nutrients. Thatā€™s why working with a qualified practitioner is so important.


Curious about working with us to optimize your nutrition and supplements?


We look at your unique health history, risk factors, and lab results to create a supplement protocol tailored just for you.


Visit our website to schedule your initial visit with Dr. Cantrell! Let's get started!


#elementsnatmed #hearthealth #heartfactsforwomen #cardiachealth #heartmonth #colga #naturalmedicine

ā¤ļø Heart Facts for Women ā¤ļø

February is HEART health month!


Did you know that heart health research has only recently started focusing on the unique differences between men and women?


Letā€™s break this down:


ā¤ļø Heart disease is the #1 killer of women worldwide.

Yes, the leading cause of deathā€”even in high-income countries like the US. This statistic spans race and ethnicity, which means itā€™s something we all need to pay attention to.


ā¤ļø Menopause dramatically impacts heart risk.

Estrogen naturally protects the heart. Thatā€™s why, if two women are the same age, the postmenopausal womanā€™s risk of a cardiovascular event is double that of the premenopausal woman. And those hot flashes and night sweats? Theyā€™ve been specifically linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure.


ā¤ļø Women have other unique heart health risk factors.

Conditions like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, PCOS, and endometriosis can increase heart disease risks. These are challenges male bodies never deal with.


ā¤ļø Heart symptoms are often misdiagnosed in women.

Studies show women with heart disease symptoms are twice as likely as men to be told that itā€™s just ā€˜stressā€™ or ā€˜anxiety.ā€™


ā¤ļø Heart attacks present differently in women.

Sure, chest pain is common, but women often experience less obvious symptoms like pain in the neck, jaw, throat, arm, or backā€”plus dizziness, nausea, heartburn, or sheer exhaustion.


Save this post! Knowing these facts could literally save a life.


Drop a ā¤ļø in the comments if you learned something in this postā€”or send it to a friend to spread the word.

Nutrients for Nervous System Resilience

A regulated nervous system is essential for sleep, mood, hormones, metabolism, gut health, and more.


But your nervous system cannot stay regulated without nutritionā€”and especially these 3 key nutrients:


1ļøāƒ£Magnesium

Magnesium is a cofactor needed to synthesize several neurotransmitters, including serotonin and GABA. It also has a calming effect on the nerves and muscles throughout the body. Good food sources are leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and chocolate!


2ļøāƒ£B Vitamins

Vitamin B6 supports production of serotonin, and vitamin B12 is needed to support the protective covering around nerve cells. Other B vitamins participate in energy metabolism, providing essential energy for nerve cells. Good food sources are animal products and fortified foods.


3ļøāƒ£Choline

Choline is a building block for acetylcholineā€”the primary chemical messenger of the parasympathetic nervous system. The most common food source of choline is egg yolks. Liver is another excellent source!


Think about the foods you eat on a daily basis, and check your supplements to see if you are fueling your nervous system.


As always, if you want more support, visit our website to schedule an appointment! šŸŒ±


#elementsnatmed #naturalmedicine #nervoussystem #nervoussystemsupport #nutrients #colga

Your Nervous system is BEGGING for these nutrients!

A regulated nervous system is essential for sleep, mood, hormones, metabolism, gut health, and more.


But your nervous system cannot stay regulated without nutritionā€”and especially these 3 key nutrients:


1ļøāƒ£Magnesium

Magnesium is a cofactor needed to synthesize several neurotransmitters, including serotonin and GABA. It also has a calming effect on the nerves and muscles throughout the body. Good food sources are leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and chocolate!


2ļøāƒ£B Vitamins

Vitamin B6 supports production of serotonin, and vitamin B12 is needed to support the protective covering around nerve cells. Other B vitamins participate in energy metabolism, providing essential energy for nerve cells. Good food sources are animal products and fortified foods.


3ļøāƒ£Choline

Choline is a building block for acetylcholineā€”the primary chemical messenger of the parasympathetic nervous system. The most common food source of choline is egg yolks. Liver is another excellent source!


Think about the foods you eat on a daily basis, and check your supplements to see if you are fueling your nervous system.


As always, if you want more support, visit our website to schedule an appointment! šŸŒ±


#elementsnatmed #naturalmedicine #nervoussystem #nervoussystemsupport #nutrients #colga

Food & Your Nervous System

A dysregulated nervous system can make it hard to heal your gut, hormones, metabolism, or just about any chronic condition.


You can work on regulating your nervous system with breathwork, movement, and meditationā€¦


But what about food?


Letā€™s take a look:


āž”ļø Protein

Protein provides amino acids that are the building blocks for neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are necessary for emotional regulation.

āž”ļø Fats

Fats are the main structural component of nerve cell membranes and therefore critical for communication throughout the nervous system.

āž”ļø Sugars

Blood sugar swings trigger a physiologic stress response and activation of the sympathetic nervous system, putting your nervous system on edge.

āž”ļø Alcohol

Alcohol gives an initial sensation of calm, but it also triggers production of the stress hormone cortisol, which can dysregulate the nervous system over time.

āž”ļø Caffeine

Caffeine activates the sympathetic nervous system, meaning that too much caffeine or caffeine too late in the day can leave your nervous system frazzled and on edge.


The bottom line?


We cannot expect our nervous systems to stay regulated and resilient without also being conscious of what we are putting into our mouths.


#elementsnatmed #naturalmedicine #nervoussystem #nervoussystemregulation #foodismedicine #colga