Cardiovascular disease remains one of Asia’s most pressing health challenges. The region accounted for 61.3% of global cardiovascular mortality, with a disease burden 8.3% higher than the global average. In the Philippines, ischaemic heart disease remained the country’s leading cause of death in 2025, accounting for 100,958 cases or 19.8% of total deaths.
While cardiovascular disease death rates have declined over time, the overall burden continues to grow amid ageing populations and changing lifestyles. For Dr. Vipada Sae-Lao, Herbalife’s Nutrition Education and Training Lead for Asia Pacific, maintaining heart health starts with the fundamentals.
“A healthy heart needs the basics. The American Heart Association’s evidence-backed framework identifies eight pillars of cardiovascular health: a heart-healthy diet, regular physical activity, avoiding nicotine, quality sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure within safe ranges,” she said.
Why Cellular Health Matters
As the body ages, blood vessels undergo progressive changes known as vascular ageing, which can affect cardiovascular health. Mitochondria—the structures within cells responsible for producing usable energy—are increasingly recognized as an important part of this process.
“The heart is one of the most energy-intensive organs in the body for its size, and this energy comes from mitochondria. When mitochondria are working well, the heart can contract, relax, and respond to the body’s physical demands with ease,” Dr. Sae-Lao explained.
Several nutrients are involved in supporting the body’s cellular energy systems. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) functions as an antioxidant and can work in both water- and fat-based environments. It also helps recycle vitamins C and E. Food sources include spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, and organ meats such as liver and kidney, although supplementation may be considered with guidance from a healthcare provider.
Nitric Oxide (NO) helps blood vessels relax and widen, supporting healthy blood flow. Physical activity is one way to encourage the body’s natural NO production. Dietary nitrates found in spinach, beets, and Brussels sprouts can also contribute to NO production, while citrus fruits and pomegranate may help preserve NO.
Supporting The Heart’s Energy Needs
Creatine acts as an energy buffer in heart muscle, helping maintain the supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy source used by cells. Creatine is naturally found in foods such as red meat and fish.
Meanwhile, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is concentrated in the heart and plays a role in converting nutrients into energy. It also functions as an antioxidant and supports blood vessel function. The body produces CoQ10 naturally, although levels decline with age.
Alongside nutrition, regular physical activity, quality sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, and routine health checks remain important components of cardiovascular health. In the Philippines, 75% of respondents reported focusing more on increasing the frequency or intensity of physical activity, while 72% were focusing on improving sleep quality.
“The good news is most of what your heart needs at a cellular level can be built into daily meals. And where food falls short, a conversation with your healthcare provider about targeted supplementation can help close the gap,” said Dr. Sae-Lao.
