Health & Fitness
Vitamin C Linked to Lower Risk for Heart Disease & Early Death
Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits is widely known to lower your risk of chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.
People who eat seven or more servings of vegetables daily, enjoy a 31% lower risk of heart disease and a 25% lower risk of cancer. Each additional daily portion of fresh veggies lowered participants’ risk of death by 16%, as compared to 4%for fresh fruit.
It’s not any one compound in veggies that makes them so healthy; rather, it’s the synergistic effect of all of their vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and likely, yet-to-be-discovered nutrients that add up to make vegetables superfoods.
Higher Vitamin C Levels Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease and Early Death:
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A Danish study revealed that those with the highest plasma vitamin C levels had significantly reduced rates of heart disease and all-cause mortality.
The researchers explained:
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“… We can see that the reduced risk is related to high vitamin C concentrations in the blood from the fruit and vegetables… our data cannot exclude that a favorable effect of high intake of fruit and vegetables could in part be driven by high vitamin C concentrations.”
How Does Vitamin C Protect Your Heart?
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant known to block some of the damage caused by DNA-damaging free radicals. Over time, free radical damage may accelerate aging and contribute to the development of heart disease and other health conditions. It’s through this antioxidant effect that it’s thought vitamin C may play a role in protecting heart health.
According to cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra, vitamin C is a superstar for your heart health, improving it in the following ways:
1. Enhances Glutathione, Which is the “Master Antioxidant”.
2. Strengthens Your Blood Vessel Walls
3. Improves Vasodilation
Eating Plenty of Vegetables Is the Best Way to Get Vitamin C:
The ideal way to optimize your vitamin C stores is by eating a wide variety of fresh whole foods. Researchers believe that it is the combination of the ascorbic acid with its associated micronutrients that is essential, such as bioflavonoids. One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re getting enough vegetables in your diet is by juicing them.