The most effective change you can make to help heart disease is a total lifestyle change. This includes changing your diet. Your diet should consist of very little fat and numerous servings of fruits and vegetables. The other part of lifestyle change is exercise. I've spoken in length about both of these in past articles. So today we will concentrate on natural supplements for the heart.

Heart disease is serious and you should be under a physicians care before taking any supplements. At any sign of heart problems you need to get an immediate diagnosis and treatment plan from your medical doctor.

Many heart attacks start slowly without any warning signs. There is usually a discomfort in the chest that lasts a few minutes. It may go away and come back. There can be pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or arms.

Shortness of breath may be a sign of heart problems. Other signs may include sweating, nausea, vomiting, and sudden ringing in the ears.

Alternative medical practitioners have always recommended vitamins and supplements. Many medical doctors now recommend nutritional supplements when treating heart disease.

One of the most important heart supplements is CoQ10. After a heart attack some of the heart tissue dies. And then the heart becomes overworked. CoQ10 helps the heart cells produce energy. CoQ10 also works to help prevent heart disease by keeping cholesterol from oxidizing.

The herb hawthorn is considered to be a heart tonic. It helps the heart fatigue that occurs in congestive heart failure. The herb is also a preventative since it improves blood flow. It has a mild blood thinning effect.

L-carnitine increases the energy production of the heart. Studies have shown it to be effective in the treatment of angina. Another study showed L-carnitine to be beneficial for congestive heart failure. It improved triglycerides, cholesterol, edema and helped breathing.

Magnesium is important for heart health. It helps to relax the arteries that feed the heart. Studies have shown that magnesium helps angina and heart arrhythmia.

Cayenne is a hot herb. It improves circulation. Studies have shown that it reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It is also a natural blood thinner.

There have been numerous studies on the benefits of garlic. Garlic is known to prevent the clumping of blood platelets. Garlic has a blood pressure lowering effect. One study showed that garlic helps to keep the arteries elastic. In another study garlic lowered cholesterol by 12 percent. If you don't want to smell like garlic use aged garlic supplements.

These are just a few of the heart healthy supplements that are available to you. Be sure to consult your doctor before trying these on your own. Once you find an open minded physician to work with you, you will be pleasantly surprised at the effectiveness of these supplements.

Linda Tremer has studied nutrition, weight loss and fitness for over 30 years. She is the owner of the website The Center For Weight Loss and Healthy Living. Her site is dedicated to helping you lose weight. Many weight loss programs and healthy diet plans are reviewed on her site.