{"id":539399,"date":"2026-03-14T06:23:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T06:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/539399\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T06:23:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T06:23:13","slug":"im-a-cardiologist-3-great-supplements-for-your-heart-and-4-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/539399\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019m a cardiologist \u2014 3 great supplements for your heart and 4 to avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img alt=\"An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows A woman pours light blue pills from a white bottle into her palm, Image 2 shows Senior woman with a hand on her chest, experiencing discomfort, Image 3 shows Cardiologist explaining heart anatomy using a model and ultrasound\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1242\" height=\"828\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img w-full w-full h-auto\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1f1c3e67726d9e1f7041c65387261aea.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows A woman pours light blue pills from a white bottle into her palm, Image 2 shows Senior woman with a hand on her chest, experiencing discomfort, Image 3 shows Cardiologist explaining heart anatomy using a model and ultrasound<\/p>\n<p>Want to give your heart a little TLC?<\/p>\n<p>Across the country, nearly half of all adults have some form of <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/27\/health\/heart-disease-threat-projected-to-skyrocket-in-women\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:cardiovascular disease;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">cardiovascular disease<\/a>, the leading cause of death for American men and women.<\/p>\n<p>With numbers like that, it\u2019s no wonder the supplement aisle is bursting at the seams with pills, potions and powders promising to help keep your ticker ticking.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Thousands of supplements on the market claim to support heart health \u2014 but experts say not all of them deliver. doucefleur \u2013 stock.adobe.com\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img w-full w-full h-auto\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5a4713b42d23bd0d83142db5f514c023.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Thousands of supplements on the market claim to support heart health \u2014 but experts say not all of them deliver. doucefleur \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n<p>But experts warn that not every bottle is worth opening your wallet \u2014 and some could actually give your heart a beating.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor most people, there is no single \u2018must-take\u2019 supplement for the heart,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiologyftlauderdale.com\/drti%EF%AC%80anydipietro\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Dr. Tiffany DiPietro;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">Dr. Tiffany DiPietro<\/a>, quadruple board-certified cardiologist, told The Post. \u201cThe best-supported options tend to be condition-specific.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you want to give your heart a little extra love, though, DiPietro broke down the top three supplements worth considering \u2014 and four she says are best left on the shelf.<\/p>\n<p>Heart helpers<\/p>\n<p>Psyllium husk powder<\/p>\n<p>Psyllium husk is a fiber supplement most people know for <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/10\/14\/health\/cant-poop-eat-these-foods-and-this-drink-to-cure-constipation\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:helping with constipation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">helping with constipation<\/a>. It soaks up excess liquid in the gut and adds bulk to stool, making it easier to pass.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot sexy, but very effective,\u201d DiPietro said.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Psyllium husk powder may support heart health by lowering cholesterol and supporting healthy blood pressure levels. Pixel-Shot \u2013 stock.adobe.com\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img w-full w-full h-auto\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/068f96f4955d2eb4ee72578e777c5029.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Psyllium husk powder may support heart health by lowering cholesterol and supporting healthy blood pressure levels. Pixel-Shot \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s not just for your bathroom routine. Studies show it can also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uhhospitals.org\/blog\/articles\/2016\/07\/not-just-for-regularity-anymore-meta-heart-health\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:lower LDL, or \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">lower LDL, or \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol<\/a>, which can build up in arteries and raise the risk of serious health problems like heart disease, heart attack and stroke.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also evidence that psyllium husk may <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6358997\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:support gut health;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">support gut health<\/a> and help <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0002916523272354\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:control blood sugar spikes;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">control blood sugar spikes<\/a> after meals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[It\u2019s] often a great \u2018supplement-like\u2019 add-on for cardiometabolic risk, especially if diet fiber is low,\u201d DiPietro said.<\/p>\n<p>CoQ10<\/p>\n<p>Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a vitamin-like antioxidant that helps your cells produce energy, protects them from damage and supports the growth of new ones.<\/p>\n<p>Your body makes it naturally, and it\u2019s found in foods, but many people take it as a supplement to boost energy and support heart health. DiPietro\u2019s go-to brand is <a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Qunol-Ultra-CoQ10-Softgels-100mg-Heart-Health-Coenzyme-Q10-Dietary-Supplement-60-Count\/24681654?classType=VARIANT&amp;athbdg=L1102__;!!F0Stn7g!DT3P2KINq9-BlBrj_761Qlxg34vv0NRs4I1FK1P-N39B778K1JTeYrnLgIt1aAVTZcckzQSHyIVVUzMWGKg$\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Qunol Ultra CoQ10;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">Qunol Ultra CoQ10<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re going to take one \u201cheart-focused\u201d supplement, this is often my top pick \u2014 especially for people on statins who notice muscle aches or fatigue,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not a substitute for controlling cholesterol or blood pressure, but it can be a helpful add-on for the right person.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"CoQ10 is often recommended to improve symptoms in heart failure patients and support recovery post-heart attack. Nadzeya \u2013 stock.adobe.com\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"726\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img w-full w-full h-auto\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/e3d6a3634e29a41afdbe5e4aa1e74de1.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>CoQ10 is often recommended to improve symptoms in heart failure patients and support recovery post-heart attack. Nadzeya \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n<p>Magnesium<\/p>\n<p>This essential mineral plays a major role in wide range of bodily functions, from maintaining a steady heartbeat and normal blood pressure to helping control inflammation. Yet many American adults <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6163803\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:don\u2019t get enough magnesium in their diets;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">don\u2019t get enough magnesium in their diets<\/a>, which can put them at risk for deficiency. For those people, DiPietro said a supplement can help.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut routine supplementation without a reason isn\u2019t always necessary,\u201d she noted. \u201cI like checking intake, medications, gastrointestinal tolerance and kidney function first.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Heart breakers<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf someone has cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, uncontrolled blood pressure, heart failure or is on anticoagulants or antiarrhythmics I get particularly cautious with [these supplements],\u201d DiPietro said.<\/p>\n<p>Stimulants and weight-loss supplements<\/p>\n<p>Often marketed to boost energy, speed up metabolism, suppress appetite or burn fat, DiPietro warned that these can raise blood pressure, trigger palpitations and affect heart rhythm.<\/p>\n<p>Vitamin E or beta-carotene \u201cfor the heart\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene play important roles in the body, there\u2019s no conclusive evidence they benefit the heart. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19451807\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:High-dose vitamin E,;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">High-dose vitamin E,<\/a> in particular, may increase the risk of heart failure, hemorrhagic stroke and even death.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[They] aren\u2019t recommended for cardiovascular disease prevention,\u201d DiPietro said. \u201cVarious guidelines note their harms and lack of benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Some supplements can be risky for people with heart issues or those on certain medications. Dragana Gordic \u2013 stock.adobe.com\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img w-full w-full h-auto\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4fbdc0f3a8dea354d526f515864f200b.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Some supplements can be risky for people with heart issues or those on certain medications. Dragana Gordic \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n<p>Licorice root<\/p>\n<p>Whether in supplements or teas, DiPietro recommends steering clear of <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2017\/10\/31\/black-licorice-is-bad-for-your-heart-fda-warns\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:licorice;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">licorice<\/a> root, which is often marketed as a way to improve digestive, respiratory or skin health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[It] can raise blood pressure and lower potassium \u2014 a bad combination for many heart patients,\u201d she cautioned.<\/p>\n<p>Some herbal supplements<\/p>\n<p>For patients on blood thinners like warfarin, certain herbal supplements \u2014 including ginkgo, ginseng and high-dose garlic extract \u2014 can increase bleeding risk.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re not always \u2018forbidden,&#8217;\u201d DiPietro noted, \u201cbut they require real medication review.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In general, DiPietro recommends checking with your doctor before adding any supplement to your routine, even the ones that could help your heart.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor anyone with heart disease or rhythm issues, I\u2019d rather they ask their physician \u201cis this safe with my meds?\u201d before adding anything over the counter,\u201d she emphasized.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows A woman pours light blue pills from a white&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":539400,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[64,63,7548,4379,267290,137,1289,6795,532,125347,267288,1287,267289],"class_list":{"0":"post-539399","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-blood-pressure","11":"tag-cardiovascular-disease","12":"tag-dipietro","13":"tag-health","14":"tag-heart-attack","15":"tag-heart-failure","16":"tag-nutrition","17":"tag-psyllium-husk","18":"tag-psyllium-husk-powder","19":"tag-supplement","20":"tag-tiffany-dipietro"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/539399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=539399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/539399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/539400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=539399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=539399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=539399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}