Vitamin C provides various health benefits – including ones that affect the heart. Here are 5 benefits of vitamin c and heart health.
As an essential vitamin, vitamin C comes from external sources due to the body’s inability to produce it on its own. However, it provides various impressive health benefits and functions.
The vitamin can be naturally found in fruits and vegetables, most notably oranges, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, and spinach.
It would be ideal to get all the vitamin C your body needs from natural sources, but for people that have deficiencies or want that extra boost, supplements are effective.
Whether you use supplements or get it from natural sources, vitamin C provides several health benefits.
The following are some of these benefits, with some directly affecting your heart health.
1. Chronic Disease
As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C can strengthen the body’s immunity. By protecting the cells from free radicals, they boost your immune system and protect it from harmful agents.
Free radicals are known to promote oxidative stress, which can lead to certain chronic diseases.
By increasing vitamin C levels, you can help decrease the chances of chronic disease. Moreover, vitamin C helps the body fight inflammation.
2. High Blood Pressure
Around one-third of people in the U.S. suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension) – and vitamin C can help manage it.
Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease, but vitamin C can help reduce blood pressure levels.
According to some studies, taking supplements can help relax the blood vessels, especially those around the heart.
3. Heart Disease
The leading cause of death around the world is heart disease.
Certain factors increase the risk of cardiovascular disease such as high cholesterol levels and hypertension.
Vitamin C can help reduce the risk of heart disease by helping to reduce these factors.
According to a study, participants who took 700 mg of vitamin C daily decreased their risk of heart disease by 25%.
Another study where participants took at least 500 mg of vitamin C daily saw positive results as well.
In this study, those who took a vitamin C supplement significantly reduced their LDL cholesterol levels.
As opposed to HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad” cholesterol that leads to heart disease.
4. Uric Acid and Gout
Vitamin C may help prevent gout attacks as well as reduce blood uric acid levels. Gout is a type of arthritis that is incredibly painful and leads to inflammation in the joints.
The major factor behind gout is the level of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a waste product that is produce by the body.
When the levels of uric acid are too high, it can crystallize and deposit in the joints, leading to inflammation.
By helping to reduce uric acid in the blood vitamin C can help prevent gout attacks.
5. Iron Deficiency
Iron is a nutrient that is key in the production of red blood cells as well as oxygen transportation.
Some people experience iron deficiencies and vitamin C supplements can help prevent it.
Meats are usually rich in iron, but people who are on a plant-based diet may not get enough of this nutrient.
Vitamin C can help improve absorption of iron from diet, including plant-based sources. It can also help prevent anemia, which is a result of iron deficiencies.
Improving Heart Health
By increasing the amount of vitamin C in your body, you can experience all these health benefits.
Vitamin C is easily found in natural food sources such as fruits and vegetables.
However, if you want to make sure you get enough of it, supplements are a good idea.
They are easy to take and you can keep track of how much you consume.
When looking for a supplement, don’t simply look for a standalone vitamin C supplement – look for one that includes other beneficial ingredients.
For example, HeartBeet Complete contains 60 mg of vitamin C per serving in addition to other helpful ingredients.
By combining five key ingredients (beetroot powder, l-arginine, l-citrulline, turmeric, and CoQ10), it effectively supports heart health.
If you want a supplement that will give you everything you’re looking for and more, try HeartBeet Complete.
