3 More Reasons Why Your Heart Needs Vitamin C

Recharge Vitamin C Drink

3 Reasons Why Your Heart

 Needs Vitamin C

According to Dr. Stephen Sinatra, vitamin C is a superstar for your heart health, improving it in the following ways:

1. Enhance Glutathione

Vitamin C enhances your body's level of glutathione. Known as your body's most powerful antioxidant, glutathione is a tripeptide found in every single cell in your body.

It is called "master antioxidant" because it is intracellular and has the unique ability of maximizing the performance of all the other antioxidants, including vitamins E, CoQ10, and alpha-lipoic acid, as well as the fresh vegetables and fruits that you eat every day.

Glutathione's primary function is to protect your cells and mitochondria from oxidative and peroxidative damage. It is also essential for detoxification, energy utilization, and preventing the diseases we associate with aging.

Glutathione also eliminates toxins from your cells and gives protection from the damaging effects of radiation, chemicals, and environmental pollutants. Your body's ability to produce glutathione decreases with aging, which is one reason why vitamin C may be even more important as you get older.

2. Strengthen Your Blood Vessel Walls

Vitamin C is essential for the biosynthesis of collagen, which in turn is beneficial for your arterial walls. According to Dr. Sinatra:8

"Weakened collagen can permit noxious oxidized LDL, homocysteine, Lp(a), cigarette smoke, and heavy metals to cause inflammatory reactions in the vascular lining — which starts the atherosclerotic plaque formation process."

3. Improve Vasodilation

Your blood vessels' ability to expand is known as vasodilation. If vasodilation is poor, it can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Vitamin C increases the availability of nitric oxide (NO), which promotes vasodilation.