“The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
Those are famous words from Ann Wigmore, an American advocate who was known for her work in the field of natural health and holistic medicine.
WHY HEART HEALTH IS IMPORTANT?
According to the World Atlas, Cardiovascular diseases account for up to 24.8% (ages 25-69) as the leading cause of death among the Indian population (Generali, 2022). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and stroke as the top three causes of death.
Heart health is essential for the proper functioning of the human body. Research has shown that poor heart healthy increases the risk of various cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. Furthermore, maintaining good heart health can improve physical and cognitive performance, as well as reduce the risk of other diseases.
Figure 1. Cause Death among the population Aged 25-69 based on World Atlas Report
Heart health is essential for the proper functioning of the human body. Research has shown that poor heart healthy increases the risk of various cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. Furthermore, maintaining good heart health can improve physical and cognitive performance, as well as reduce the risk of other diseases.
PLANTS AS MEDICINE?
Plants can indeed be considered a rich source of nutraceuticals. The term “nutraceutical” is a combination of the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical.” These products are derived from food sources and offer potential health benefits beyond the basic nutritional value. Many plants contain bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds that are shown to have various health benefits.
Incorporating a variety of plant-based foods into your diet can be a simple and effective way to increase your intake of nutraceuticals and improve your overall health.
ABHA Biotechnology Pvt. Ltd is a research manufacturing company specializing in Liquid, Solid & Powder dosage forms of nutraceuticals. The company has launched two plant-based products under Heart Care.
Here is the list of plants that are known to benefit one’s heart health:
Berberis asiatica
Berberis asiatica is a plant species native to the Himalayan region of Asia, including India, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. It is commonly known as Daruharidra, Indian barberry or Nepal barberry. Berberis asiatica has been used in traditional medicine for its various health benefits. Here are some benefits of the Indian barberry that are supported by human research.
BENEFITS:
- The fruit extracts of Daruharidra have been shown to demonstrate positive inotropic action. The research found a considerable increase in fibrinogen and thrombin levels and a decrease in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels (Choudhary, Kaurav, S, & Chaudhary, 2021).
- Berberine, an active ingredient in the plant, prevents platelet aggregation by inhibiting collagen-mediated adhesion. This prevents platelets from clumping together, leading to the formation of blood clots that can block blood vessels in the heart and lungs (Pal, 2022).
Curcuma Longa
Curcuma Longa, commonly known as turmeric, is an old-age spice that has a long history of being used for purposes in different cultures. The spice is rich in a number health beneficial nutrients such as Potassium, Vitamin C, Manganese, and Iron.
BENEFITS:
- Studies have shown that curcumin/turmeric consumption can improve SBP when administered over an extended period (Hadi, Pourmasoumi, Ghaedi, & Sahebkar, 2019).
- Some researchers have observed that curcumin can reduce very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, and serum triglyceride (TG) in coronary artery disease (Mirzabeigi, et al., 2015).
Prunus Serotina
Prunus Serotina, commonly called Black cherry, wild cherry, or rum wild cherry, is a tree native to North America. It has been used for centuries by Native Americans for its medicinal properties. The bark, leaves, and fruit of the black cherry tree have been studied for their potential benefits.
BENEFITS:
Studies have shown that the fruit has a good antioxidant capacity, which can account for its polyphenol contents. Additionally, the fruit contains compounds such as hyperoside and chlorogenic acid, which yield antioxidant, vasodilator, and antihypertensive effects. The black cherry fruit is found to be rich in vitamins and minerals that can account for the fact it has the potential to be useful in preventing hypertension (Luna-Vázquez, et al., 2013).
Apium Leptophyllum
Apium Leptophyllum, also known as slender celery, marsh parsley, and Ajamoda in Marathi is a commonly used specie in Indian cuisine. It is derived from Apium plant and has been used for centuries in Ayurveda medicine to treat a variety of ailments including lowering blood pressure.
BENEFITS:
- Studies have shown that a methanolic extract of Apium lepthophyllum had ant hypersensitive effects. The study found the extract significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure (Godenèche, et al., 2017).
- Another study showed the plant has a high level of antioxidants, which may have a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension (Díaz-Corona, et al., 2020).
