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Heart Disease and the Vitamin C Connection

Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010

by Lisa Nelson
Be Heart Healthy and Lose Weight

Did you know vitamin C has many benefits besides helping fight the common cold. Vitamin C also even promotes heart health. Here are a few of the benefits directly related to heart disease:

Slows atherosclerosis hardening of the arteries.
Reduces repeat angioplasties.
Improves endothelial function.
Decreases atrial fibrillation post-bypass surgery.
Improves heart attack recovery.
Promotes blood pressure control.
Regulates c-reactive protein levels.

Risk of vitamin C deficiency increases with age. Some additional factors affecting vitamin C deficiency include birth control pills, antibiotics, painkillers, cigarettes, stress, high blood pressure, and fever.

Fruits and vegetables are the best source of vitamin C, such as peppers, kale, parsley, greens, broccoli, watercress, cauliflower, strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, mangos, okra, green peas, radishes, squash, and berries.

Current vitamin C recommendations are between 1000 to 5000 milligrams per day. Since vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and is quickly eliminated from the body it is best to divide your supplement into two or three doses throughout the day. However, if you are likely to forget it's better to take the supplement all at once. If you supplement more than 5000 mg per day you increase your risk of experiencing diarrhea. Discuss all supplements with your physician.

Be sure to sign-up for The Heart of Health for more tips to be heart healthy from dietitian Lisa Nelson. You will also receive the free report How to Make Heart Healthy Changes into Lifelong Habits when you sign up. Learn more at http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com.

Lisa Nelson RD is the founder and owner of Health Practices Online and Heart Health Made Easy.

Health Practices Online provides online business management services for busy health professionals who are overwhelmed by everything involved with establishing an online presence.

Receive regular tips and the free report "7 Steps to Starting an Online Health Practice" at http://www.healthpracticesonline.com.

Heart Health Made Easy provides clients step-by-step guidance to lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and weight loss, so they can live life and enjoy their family for years to come. Lisa will make it truly possible for you to see dramatic changes in your health, without crazy fads or impossibly difficult techniques.

Receive regular tips and the free report "How to Make Heart Healthy Changes into Lifelong Habits" at http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com.

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