Posted by Physicians Preference Vitamins on 2/18/2021 to
Vitamins and Supplements
When you think of vitamin C, the first thing that may come to mind is that it can help fight off colds and the flu. However, did you know that vitamin C does much more than this? It plays a crucial role in the health of your heart.
Research shows that adequate intake of vitamin C can help prevent heart disease. The cause of heart disease involves vitamin C deficiency, inflammation and oxidative damage. Early vitamin C researchers first explained the dependency of heart disease on vitamin C levels over half a century ago.
Atherosclerosis
Vitamin C helps promote blood vessel and arterial health. Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of your arteries due to plaque buildup. The body constantly requires vitamin C to repair minor damage to its tissues. In the case of atherosclerosis, the repair mechanisms fail due to a lack of vitamin C. Vitamin C deficiency leads to the deposition of lipoprotein(a) and fibrin in the blood vessel walls that causes atherosclerosis. (1)
Vitamin C Prevents Scurvy
You may be wondering why this is important. As you may know, a vitamin C deficiency can cause scurvy, which is the breakdown of the body’s connective tissues. Scurvy can cause bleeding gums, weakness, anemia and hemorrhaging of the skin. It is a condition that afflicted sailors until the end of the 18th century. They were called “limeys” because they ate limes to get their vitamin C.
Well, the main cause of a heart attack is a scurvy-like condition of the artery wall. You could think of atherosclerosis as an early form of scurvy. The cause of heart attacks and strokes is low-grade scurvy.
Vitamin C Helps Increase Production of Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide regulates vascular tone and blood flow. It is a free radical used extensively by our cells as a chemical signal in the control of local blood flow and blood pressure. (2) It typically acts to dilate and increase flow. In order to function properly and maintain healthy vessels and blood flow, nitric oxide is dependent on adequate amounts of vitamin C.
With an adequate amount of vitamin C, the epithelial cells can increase production of nitric oxide when the blood vessel wall is stressed or damaged. (3) Nitric oxide is an essential early part of the defense mechanism of the arterial wall. People who have a defective nitric oxide response resulting from vitamin C deficiency can suffer increased resistance to blood flow and thickening of the blood vessel wall.
Age also plays a factor in nitric oxide production. By age 40, nitric oxide production slows drastically, negatively impacting your circulatory and cardiovascular health. NEO40 has been proven to support nitric oxide production in the body.
Why Animals Don’t Get Heart Attacks
Most animals do not suffer from heart attacks because they make their own vitamin C. Animals that synthesize vitamin C internally are resistant to atherosclerosis. (4) (5) When it does occur in animals, it is rare and associated with a vitamin C deficiency. Humans can’t make their own vitamin C and must get it from food and supplements.
Sources of Vitamin C
Here is a list of some healthy foods that contain high amounts of vitamin C:
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Lemons
• Limes
• Strawberries
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Cherries
• Bell peppers
• Brussels sprouts
• Dark leafy greens
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Tomatoes
• Melons
• Papaya
• Kiwi
• Bananas
• Peas
Vitamin C supplements are a great way to get your daily vitamin C. We have Vitamin C Capsules that contain no sugar, salt, starch, yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, shellfish or preservatives. If you’re not a pill taker, then try our Vitamin C Buffered Powder with its great-tasting natural orange flavor.
We Can Help
Do you need help figuring out what vitamins to take for heart health or any other health concern? Call our Certified Holistic Nutritionists and Vitamin Consultants today at 877-579-6545. It will be our privilege to serve you!
Source: Vitamin C: The Real Story
Research
