Cardiovascular disease or heart disease is the number one killer in the USA. A number of factors, individually or in combination, can lead to heart disease:

Cause of heart disease
Diets rich in saturated fat and simple sugars. For a natural sugar alternative, see stevia benefit information.
Physical inactivity.
Smoking and heart disease. Smoking, including passive smoking can cause heart disease. Passive smoking may be much more dangerous than had been thought. Exposure to secondhand smoke greatly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Stress and anxiety-- a stress-filled life really does seem to raise the odds of heart disease and stroke down the road.
A family history of heart disease;
Being overweight.
Medical conditions such as hypertension, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes are also potent risk factors.
Older adults who've suffered a bout of major depression at any time in their lives have an elevated risk of heart disease.
Nuclear power plant workers exposed to chronic radiation face a higher risk of heart disease.

Natural Supplements for Heart Disease
In a rodent study, Curcumin was found to protect rat myocardium against ischemic insult and the protective effect could be attributed to its antioxidant properties. You can find Curcumin here. For more curcumin turmeric information. Arjuna information.

Cacao and Heart Disease
A few squares of dark chocolate every day might cut the risk of serious heart disease by helping to stave off the hardening of arteries. Researchers from University Hospital in Zurich studied 20 male smokers, who are at greater risk of hardening arteries characteristic of coronary heart disease, to see the effects of dark and white chocolate on arterial blood flow. The subjects, who were asked to abstain from eating foods rich in antioxidants for 24 hours, were given 40 grams (2 ounces) of chocolate to eat. After two hours, ultrasound scans revealed that dark chocolate -- made up of 74 percent cacao solids -- significantly improved the smoothness of arterial flow, while white chocolate, with four percent cocoa, had no effect.  The problem with chocolate is the excess sugar and cocoa butter that add on unnecessary calories. Fortunately, cacao is now available in capsules that minimize the calories and provides a hefty amount of the flavonoid antioxidants.

Heart disease statistics
Levels of coronary heart disease, heart attack and angina vary widely across U.S. states and territories. Coronary heart disease is a narrowing of arteries that supply blood to the heart due to arterial plaque. Angina is chest pain that occurs when the heart doesn't receive enough blood. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. A 2007 study found rates of any of the three conditions ranged from 3.5 percent in the U.S. Virgin Islands to 10.4 percent in West Virginia. For heart attack alone, rates ranged from 2 percent in the U.S. Virgin Islands to 6 percent in West Virginia. Areas with the lowest levels of these three heart problems were: Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Rates were highest in: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. The study also found that men had higher rates of coronary heart disease and non-fatal heart attack and angina than women (8.2 percent vs. 5 percent). Asians had the lowest rates of heart disease (4.7 percent), while American Indians/Alaska Natives had the highest rates (11.2 percent). Heart disease rates were similar among whites (6.9 percent), blacks (6.2 percent) and Hispanics (6.2 percent). People with fewer than 12 years of education had higher rates of heart disease than college graduates (9.8 percent vs. 5 percent).

Heart Disease Research Update
Dietary Intake and Coronary Heart Disease: A Variety of Nutrients and Phytochemicals Are Important.
Tucker KL.. Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med. 2004 Aug;6(4):291-302.
Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA
Until quite recently, the dietary focus on prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) has been almost exclusively centered on reducing intake of cholesterol, total fat, and saturated fat. The food industry responded vigorously with low-fat products, some of which are helpful, particularly low-fat dairy products, but others that are less so, due to increases in refined carbohydrate content. Recent research shows that a variety of foods contribute to protection against CHD, including certain types of fatty acids, and a variety of components in fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. In particular, there is now an emphasis on reducing not only saturated fat, but also trans fat, whereas mono and omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be protective. Many new studies have shown a link between intake of fruit and vegetables and whole grains and protection against CHD. This has been ascribed to their fiber, vitamin, mineral, and phytochemical content. In particular, there is accumulating evidence of protective effects for folate, vitamin B(6), vitamin B(12), vitamin E, vitamin C, flavonoids, and phytoestrogens. New recommendations to prevent heart disease require a greater focus on total dietary pattern with a return to the use of a variety of minimally processed foods.

Tribulus terrestris extract home and latest links heart disease