| After a recent love affair with Vitamin C, and its | | | | The stability and elasticity of blood vessel walls is, |
| hyped up ability to be one of the best cold and flu | | | | absolutely, dependent on a high amounts of this |
| fighting remedies around, this nutrient soon fell out | | | | vitamin in the diet. This nutrient stimulates our |
| of favor with the mainstream media, and the | | | | production of collagen, which can be compared to |
| general public. If it were not for its glory days in | | | | iron reinforcements in a high-rise building. High |
| curing scurvy in sailors, which is really an early | | | | intake amounts of this vitamin protects blood |
| stage of leaky blood vessels, its reputation would | | | | vessel walls in the heart and brain, so no fatty |
| have been seriously compromised when it was | | | | deposits can build up on artery walls. |
| discovered it was not the magical cure all for | | | | Dietary consumption of fresh, raw fruits and |
| colds and flu. At least, not for everyone. The | | | | vegetables serve as an example of a healthy |
| human intellect really loves the idea of a one | | | | dietary lifestyle. These foods also help by changing |
| nutrient fits all, or single bullet, approach to health. | | | | gut flora and adding fiber and roughage to the |
| But, there is one target area we all share in | | | | diet. Eating them raw, or lightly cooked, may also |
| common, and that is our blood vessel system | | | | slow down refined carbohydrate absorption, |
| health. | | | | lessening the chance of a rapid blood sugar spike |
| Vitamin C has taken its share of skepticism much | | | | after meals. Frequent high blood glucose levels |
| needed among the medical research community | | | | contributes to obesity and diabetes, another risk |
| over the last 40 years. The controversies | | | | factor in developing cardiovascular disease, and |
| surrounding this nutrient began surfacing in the late | | | | stroke. |
| 1960's, when Nobel laureate Linus Pauling PhD. | | | | As fresh, whole fruits and vegetables are high in |
| recommended large amounts to help fight colds, | | | | vitamin C, and low in calories, it makes sense to |
| flu, and several years later, cancer. Despite | | | | eat more of them instead of highly refined |
| extreme medical resistance then, today's | | | | carbohydrate snacks such as donuts, cakes, and |
| nutritional science has, now, confirmed its | | | | pastries. Besides, it is a healthier way to satisfy |
| importance to human health. Supplementing with | | | | those sweet, sugary food cravings we all get. |
| vitamin C, if you are worried that you are not | | | | Fresh fruit and vegetables are, also, a good |
| getting enough, can greatly improve human health. | | | | source of water that does count towards the |
| According to Pauling, the truth is that this vitamin | | | | daily hydration levels of the body. |
| plays a pivotal role in our existence, and in all life | | | | So what is the bottom line in this article report? |
| on this planet. Plants make vitamin C from simple | | | | How much vitamin C should we be eating to take |
| sugars. It helps protect them (and you when you | | | | advantage of this nutrients heart and brain blood |
| eat them) from sunlight-generated free radicals. | | | | vessel strengthening power? The take home |
| As humans, and a small number of other animal | | | | message is this, everyone should be striving to |
| species, we are not able to manufacture this | | | | eat between 5 and 9 servings of whole fruits and |
| nutrient on our own. Due to this inborn, genetic | | | | vegetables a day. |
| error dating back thousands of years, we are | | | | Everyone is individualistic in vitamin C needs, how |
| totally dependent on getting this, much needed, | | | | much is good for you, in keeping your blood |
| vitamin in the foods we eat. | | | | vessel system healthy and strong, may be |
| Because our ancestors lost their ability to make | | | | different for someone else. If you are currently |
| this nutrient, the entire blood vessel system | | | | suffering from an existing heart condition or brain |
| became the most vulnerable area in the human | | | | functioning problem, it would be wise to seek |
| body. A deficiency in vitamin C is a predominate | | | | advice from your health care provider, or a |
| risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, | | | | natural health care expert. |
| heat attack, and stroke. | | | | |