Heart disease is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that almost 800,000 Americans have a first heart attack every year. High blood cholesterol and hypertension are major risk factors for heart disease. Both fish oil and resveratrol are herbal supplements that may have several health benefits, including reducing your risk for coronary artery disease and heart attack.
Cardiovascular Disease
Several conditions raise your risk for cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, or hypertension, and high blood cholesterol. When your blood pressure is too high, the pressure on your arterial walls may damage the lining cells and make the vessel less elastic, leading to higher risk of blood clots and other cardiovascular problems. Cholesterol travels in your blood combined with protein in a lipoprotein. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is bad cholesterol because it can form arterial deposits called plaque that slow blood flow, an especially dangerous situation for the heart. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is good cholesterol because, when its level is high, it carries excess cholesterol to the liver where it is degraded and excreted.
Fish Oil
Certain cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut, bluefish, herring and sardines contain an oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Besides being important for normal growth and brain function, these fatty acids are natural anti-inflammatory compounds that also help lower your risk for heart disease and stroke. Omega-3 fatty acids raise levels of HDL, eventually lowering your overall cholesterol level and potentially reducing plaque buildup in your arteries. They also lower blood levels of triglycerides, another type of unhealthy fat, and reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a natural compound called a polyphenol that has many health benefits. Found primarily in the skin of red grapes, resveratrol is an antioxidant that removes free radicals from your body. Free radicals are metabolic byproducts that may injure cells by damaging DNA and membranes, making cells abnormal and potentially cancerous. The antioxidant quality of resveratrol helps slow deposition of LDL in arterial plaque because this process requires oxidation of LDL. Resveratrol also slows aggregation of platelets, blood components important in clot formation, further reducing the likelihood of arterial damage and lowering your risk for stroke.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Resveratrol and fish oil are of equal importance in maintaining the health of your body. Both lower your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke, but through different mechanisms, suggesting that their benefits may be additive. Fish oil has additional positive effects through its general anti-inflammatory activity and resveratrol may also lower your risk for developing certain cancers.
Both resveratrol and fish oil are available as supplements from health food stores and both are considered safe. Fish oil may cause some gas or bloating and both fish oil and resveratrol may interact with some medications such as blood thinners. Consult your doctor to discuss whether either or both supplements may be advisable for your situation.
Member Comments