You guys know that there’s nothing us folks at Oliver’s love more than having fun with good food, but every so often we have to cut the butter and salt, put down the sugar, and get real – America is suffering from some killer heartsickness, literally. It’s sad to say, but the CDC lists heart disease as “the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States”, and it’s estimated that 1 in every 4 people will eventually die due to heart disease. There are a number of factors that can contribute to poor heart health, and while genetics can play a part, the biggest offenders are still bad diet, smoking cigarettes, excessive drinking, and lack of exercise.

These factors are bad enough on their own, but combined, they can create a ticking time-bomb of high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. While this might paint a pretty bleak picture, we firmly believe it’s never too late to take control of your health, and baby, your heart can and WILL go on! Making positive lifestyle changes for better heart health starts with a healthy diet (for heart healthy recipes, click here) and plenty of exercise as well as ditching a vice or two, but even the most diligent health guru can still miss out on nutrients vital to maintaining heart health. It can be hard to get nutrients in the quantities you need to stay healthy, especially if you’re trying to reverse a lifetime of bad habits. Supporting a healthy lifestyle with supplements is a great way to make sure your heart is getting all the love it needs, which directly translate to your health and longevity.

Now, before we give you the inside scoop on our favorite heart-healthy supplements, we feel it is important to remind you that Oliver’s is not a hospital, and we are not doctors. You should always check with your physician before starting any dietary supplements, and remember that these are supplements, not medication – they’re meant to supplement a healthy lifestyle and overall wellness, they are not meant to cure or treat anything. The products we list here are only intended to support you in your journey to your ideal wellness, and the information we give is intended as information only, not a prescription. If you feel you have a legitimate health concern involving your personal health or the health of someone close to you, please consult a licensed professional.

PHEW, now that we’ve gotten that bit out of the way, without further ado, here are our some of our very favorite heart healthy supplements at Oliver’s!

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega 2X

Optimal wellness means feeling good day to day. For many people, this means stepping up their daily intake of Omega-3 EPA+DHA. Nordic’s Ultimate Omega’s award-winning formula delivers. With all the health benefits of pure, fresh, high-quality concentrated fish oil, it gives you more omega-3s in every serving.

Nordic Natural Ultimate Omega+COQ10

“Each and every cell in your body needs energy, and those energy demands are particularly high in the heart. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a fat-soluble, vitamin-like compound, helps our cells generate energy and efficiently use oxygen. Ultimate Omega +CoQ10 gives you all the benefits of concentrated omega-3s, plus 100 mg of CoQ10 (as ubiquinone) in one convenient serving. Recommended for people with cardiovascular concerns, performance athletes, and anyone over the age of 40.”

Nordic Naturals Algae Omega

“It can be difficult for vegans and vegetarians, especially, to get enough essential omega-3 fats from food alone. To get just 500 mg omega-3 EPA+DHA, you’d have to eat a 5-ounce bag of flax or chia seeds. That’s a lot of seeds to crunch! Nordic Naturals Algae Omega gives you that same beneficial amount in two, certified-vegetarian soft gels. And because it contains no fish or animal products, it’s also suitable for vegans.”

Nordic Naturals Algae DHA

“The important omega-3 fatty acid DHA helps support healthy brain, eye, and nervous system function, but due to the body’s poor ability to convert plant-based omega-3 ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) to healthy amounts of DHA, it can be difficult for vegans and vegetarians to get enough of this foundational nutrient from food alone. Vegan Algae DHA is a marine-based formula derived from sustainably sourced microalgae to deliver a beneficial amount of preformed omega-3 DHA in small, easy-to-swallow vegetarian soft gels. Algae DHA is a great alternative to fish oil for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone who prefers not to eat fish.”