Heart

In addition to supporting optimal gut health, fiber is an essential for keeping your heart and blood vessels flowing freely. Both soluble fiber and insoluble fiber have been linked to heart health benefits¹. Research suggests that the people who consume the most fiber in their diets have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease² and coronary heart disease³. Fiber’s beneficial effects appear to be due to its ability to reduce total and LDL cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and improve insulin sensitivity⁴. Fiber can almost act like a sponge, binding excess cholesterol in the small intestine and clearing it from your body so it doesn’t get deposited in your blood vessels where it could contribute to a heart attack or stroke. Ka’Chava contains 4-7 grams of fiber per serving, or 14-25% of your recommended daily intake, from sources like broccoli, whole grain oats, chia, flax, and inulin

Omega-3 fats are widely considered the most heart-healthy fats on the planet. They’re highly anti-inflammatory and research suggests that they’re good for your heart and blood vessels in several ways:⁵ Omega-3s reduce levels of triglycerides, a type of fat found in your blood; they slow the buildup of plaque—a substance consisting of fat, cholesterol, and calcium—which can harden and block arteries; they reduce the risk of developing an irregular heart beat; they lead to subtle reductions in blood pressure; and they help reduce the formation of blood clots⁶. Omega-3s must be obtained from your diet because your body can’t make them on its own. While fatty fish like salmon are a top source, you can also get omega-3s from plant foods such as chia seeds and flax seeds, both of which are found in Ka’Chava

Why are we talking about magnesium and calcium together? Because these minerals—both of which are electrolytes—have complementary roles for heart health. Calcium stimulates your heart to contract, while magnesium strategically counters the effect of calcium and helps your heart muscles relax⁷. Together, they ensure your heart is contracting and relaxing properly. If your magnesium levels are too low, for example, calcium can overstimulate your heart muscle and lead to a rapid or irregular heartbeat⁸. In every serving, Ka’Chava contains a healthy balance of these two minerals— 44-46% of your daily value of calcium and 48- 69% of your daily value of magnesium.

Low levels of potassium have been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, but increasing potassium intake can help alleviate these risks⁹. One explanation for this is that potassium helps prevent vascular calcification—the buildup of calcium in the smooth muscle cells within arteries, which contributes to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Getting enough potassium also helps you maintain a healthy blood pressure, in part by counteracting the blood pressure-elevating effects of too much sodium¹⁰. Like other electrolyte minerals, potassium also helps keep your heart beating at the right pace. Potassium is readily found in plant foods like bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach, and lentils. Ka’Chava contains 6 % % of your daily value for potassium from naturally occurring sources.

Folate is a B vitamin that—along with other B vitamins—helps break down homocysteine, an amino acid that may damage the inner walls of arteries and contribute to risk of heart attack and stroke¹². In one study of over 20,000 adults with high blood pressure, those who took a folic acid supplement along with their blood pressure medication were less likely to experience a stroke than people who just took blood pressure medication alone¹³. Folate is found in many foods such as green leafy vegetables, beans, and citrus fruits. Folic acid refers to the supplemental form of folate. Each serving of Ka’Chava contains 83% of folate or folic acid.