Researchers from the soy product manufacturer Solae announced that individuals who took soy-protein based dietary supplements tended to have a better ratio of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – or so-called good cholesterol – to low-density lipoprotein, the less healthy form of cholesterol.

The team concluded that taking vitamin supplements that deliver soy proteins may improve heart health and change an individual's blood-lipid profile for the better.

"It's the simple lifestyle changes, such as including soy protein in your diet, that can often have a positive impact on your health," co-author Elaine Krul emphasized. "Research continues to demonstrate that soy protein can help lower LDL cholesterol."

Besides relying on soy protein, what else can people look to for its heart health benefits? Prior studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may improve cardiovascular well-being while reducing inflammation and preventing oxidative damage to cells.

- Omega-3 fatty acids: These molecules are critical for the formation of healthy cell walls. Also, research has suggested that omega-3s protect cardiac health and act as antioxidants in the bloodstream.

- Beta-carotene: Besides in dietary supplements, this antioxidant can be found in orange, red and dark green vegetables and fruits, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The organization notes that individuals should try to consume between five and 10 servings of produce every day.

- Vitamin D: Other than improving bone health, this nutrient appears to help the body modulate blood pressure and prevent vascular damage, the HHMC states.

- Vitamin C: Though popularly known as an immunity boosters, vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that may keep the body's cardiovascular system functioning properly.

Both the Cleveland Clinic and the HHMC recommend avoiding high-fat foods and sticking to meals that include plenty of fresh produce.

A study conducted by public health experts at Canada's St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto found that patients were able to lower their blood-lipid profiles after as few as two intensive doctor's appointments that focused on reducing cholesterol.

The team asked participants to try improving their levels of LDL, or the so-called "bad" cholesterol, by eating nuts, plant sterols, soy proteins and fibrous foods – all of which are known to reduce cholesterol if eaten regularly along with a nutritious diet.

With one group of volunteers, researchers had two meeting on this subject. With another group, they held seven meetings. In both cases, participants enacted the doctors' advice and ate LDL-lowering foods, improving their blood profiles.

Why did just two appointments do the trick?

"We're seeing more and more people want to take their health into their own hands," lead author David Jenkins explained.

The revelation was made at the European Society of Cardiology’s International Conference of Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Imaging. Researchers said that, using computed tomography scans, they found that a mummy dating from more than 3,500 years ago showed signs of atherosclerosis.

Theban princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon, three of whose cardiac arteries were significantly occluded, probably died in her 40s, even though she ate a low-meat diet of primarily grains, vegetables and fruits.

Scientists said that this finding may indicate that humans are genetically inclined to having heart disease, since the mummified Egyptian probably ate well and was not exposed to many of the tobacco- and alcohol-related risk factors that exist today.

With the benefit of advanced technology and scientific health resources, individuals who want to stay healthy longer may feel confident that consuming proper nutrition daily and exercising are steps in the right direction.

Ellison recommends adopting these daily habits:

• Abstain from sugar and artificial sweeteners
• Quit smoking—or don’t start
• Exercise moderately
• Eat more leafy, green vegetables every day
• Drink more purified water
• Limit milk consumption to moderate amounts of milk
• Eat walnuts, coconut oil or freshwater salmon for omega-3 fatty acids
• Minimize refined grains
• Lose body fat

These all can help boost heart health and circulation, which can be further promoted with the addition of the enzyme nattokinase to your daily regimen. Discovered by the Japanese more than 1,000 years ago, this enzyme can help safely and naturally eliminate protein buildup—and support healthy blood flow from head to toe. In one scientific study, 173 coagulated blood samples were exposed to various nutrients, but results indicate nattokinase was the only nutrient able to successfully break down the clotted blood.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism says it all. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans state that up to 25 percent of one's daily calories may be sugars, the American Heart Association puts that figure at 5 percent.

Whence the disparity? Researchers from the University of California, Davis and scientists from Japan teamed up to find out. They asked 48 adults to consume one-quarter of their daily calories as either glucose, fructose or high-fructose corn syrup.

In a matter of weeks, those consuming fructose-based substances experienced increases in their triglycerides and cholesterol. The group concluded that a fructose-rich diet may increase the risk of heart disease.

Instead of consuming sugary snacks or beverages, it is healthier to eat a balanced well-rounded diet rich in whole-food nutrients. To ensure an optimal daily intake of nutrients, it’s wise to add in dietary supplements containing vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids.

A team of scientists from the University of Western Ontario stated in a recent issue of the journal Diabetes that the compound nobiletin is responsible for these potential effects. The study found that mice fed a high-fat diet saw promising effects on health parameters such as blood lipids and blood glucose regulation. And they were found to gain weight at a normal rate rather than an accelerated one.

A previous report published in the journal Atherosclerosis determined that nobiletin helped maintain cholesterol levels and arterial health, while similar flavonoids from grapefruits and oranges did not. Nobiletin is found in tangerine peels, so you are unlikely to get much of it by simply eating the fruit. It may be easier to simply purchase vitamin supplements containing the compound.

A report appearing in the journal Internal Medicine found that individuals who get too much sodium and too little potassium in their diet increase their likelihood of poor cardiovascular health outcomes.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention based these findings on data collected in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Linked Mortality File on more than 12,600 Americans.

The team determined that male participants who smoked were the most likely to have too high a sodium intake and too little potassium. Scientists found that this ratio of the two elements dramatically increased the chances that an individual would develop adverse heart outcomes during the study.

By contrast, volunteers who got plenty of potassium and relatively little sodium had healthier cardiovascular function.

The study said that Professor Mike Gibney of University College Dublin's Institute of Food Health has created Food4Me, a four-year year project designed to determine ways in which nutrition plans may be personalized based on an individual's genetic makeup. The project is funded by and conducted in the European Union.

The authors noted that omega-3 fatty acids have been found to benefit the heart health of some people more than others, based largely on their DNA. Gibney and his colleagues expressed optimism that such findings may lead to programs like Food4Me, in which people may have their genome sequenced and their eating schedule adjusted according to the results.

Besides being encouraged to eat some foods and avoid others, a personalized diet plan might also include a regimen of vitamin supplements to keep the body topped up with vital nutrients, minerals and vitamins.

As you get older, illness and stress can affect your heart as significantly as nutrition. When your heart can’t keep pace with your body’s needs for oxygen and nutrients, you may experience:

• Occasional swelling in your feet or ankles
• Weight gain from fluid retention
• Increase in urination
• Lung health issues
• Low energy and decreased stamina

To avoid these health issues, you should nourish your heart with the right kind of fuel—and that means getting more coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). This super nutrient is the “energy switch” that sparks all 100 trillion of your body’s cells and helps keep them fueled for optimal performance.

When you were younger, your body made its own CoQ10. But as you get older, your ability to produce natural CoQ10 significantly decreases. Without enough CoQ10, you could experience less-than-optimal heart health.

The exciting news is that you can restore your natural levels of CoQ10 through supplementation and maximize your heart health. Plus, you’ll also be keeping your circulation flowing to deliver nourishing blood to every cell in your body.