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Vitamin C is most commonly thought of as the vitamin to take if you feel a cold coming on or just feel a bit run down. And although vitamin C is great in this area, because of the effect it has on the body’s immune system, it really has so much more to offer.

Recently, the American College of Cardiology released the results of a study that involved the Harvard Nursing Registry on the benefits of vitamin C. Approximately 85,000 women nurses were enlisted in the 1980s to participate in an ongoing clinical trial. Periodically the nurses were followed to determine how certain factors in their lives affected their health. It was concluded that women who took vitamin C in the form of a supplement decrease the chance of heart disease by 28%. Interestingly, enough those women who ate foods that contain vitamin C, but did not take a supplement, did not benefit as much as the ones who took the supplement.

Its not hard to believe that vitamin C could help with heart disease, because it helps to build and maintain collagen which is an integral part of the arterial wall forming the blood vessels throughout our bodies. The fact Vitamin C helps to build collagen is another benefit worth discussing. Collagen is also one of main components of the skin. The production of collagen helps the skin to maintain a more youthful appearance and can help prevent the appearance of fine lines.

Vitamin C also protects against blood clotting and bruising and can promote the healing of wounds. It also has been discovered that vitamin C works synergistically with vitamin E, which basically means the two are more beneficial when taken together. Vitamin E is a free radical scavenger and Vitamin C attacks free radicals, promoting a healthy immune system. Vitamin C is also believed to help reduce levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The body cannot manufacture Vitamin C so it is essential that it be taken in from out side sources, whether it is through food or supplements or both. Another problem to be aware of is that most of the Vitamin C consumed is lost in the urine. It is better to break up the dose of it and taken twice daily. If you take aspirin on a regular basis you should use an esterified form of vitamin C. If you are pregnant, you should consult your doctor for guidelines on how much Vitamin C is safe to take in your diet.

  This article is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical advice if you have any concern about your health or physical condition, and you should always consult your physician before following the recommendations presented here.  

 


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