A Spotlight on Vitamin C and Your Health

Every person has heard of vitamin C (a.k.a. ascorbic acid (AA) also known as dehydroascorbic DHAA in its oxidized state). In fact, vitamin C is virtually a catch all name for any compounds that exhibit the same biologic activity as AA. It’s importance was originally recognized in 1747 when James Lind observed that men could be cured of scurvy if offered oranges and lemons. It was a lifesaving breakthrough for sailors. The expression “Limey” caught on fairly quickly as a nickname for the sailors in His Majesty’s Royal Navy.

Vitamin C is the most important and readily available water soluable antioxidant within the human body. The fact that it is water soluable means that it can neutralize free radicals before they reach the cellular membrane layer. The relationship between Ascorbic Acid and glutathione– the body’s master antioxidant is unique. Vitamin C reduces glutathione back to its active form. Once reduced, glutathione will revitalize vitamin C from its DHAA or oxidized state. The symbioitic relationship explains why Vitamin C is an ingredient in Cellgevity, available from Whole Earth Health

Vitamin C is vital for the creation of collagen. It is also needed in the development of noropinephrine and serotonin. Ascorbic Acid may possibly also have some anti-clotting and blood flow advancement components by triggering the release within the body of Nitric Oxide, which is the most likely reason that Vitamin C is also a key ingredient in the supplement Pro-Argi9-Plus. (Call 1 866 993 6243 for more info)

Vitamin C is stored in both the tissues and blood in our bodies. The adrenal and pituitary glands, and lens of the eye include the highest concentrations of vitamin C inside of your body. Vitamin C is one of the thirteen essential vitamins. The term “essential” is often confused. An essential vitamin is not necessarily more important than another vitamin, rather it’s one that must come from our food since we are unable to manufacture it within the body.

Blood Flow and Healthy Functioning

Nitric oxide is an organic chemical substance that is found to improve the flow of blood as well as enhance Muscle quantity through oxygen delivery and also vasodilation. It might even help to protect your heart. Nitric oxide, a signalling molecule takes on a crucial role in vascular regulation, neuro-transmission, apoptosis as well as triggering reactions from your immune system.

Generally, nitric oxide in its role as a signaling molecule facilitates cellular communications. For body builders, one of the most useful processes in which nitric oxide is involved could be the dilation of blood vessels – vasodilation.

Nitric oxide’s ability to improve blood flow makes it useful in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The problem for a lot of men is that the presence of this signaling molecule decreases with age and can contribute to impotence problems. The great news is that you can top it up, by using supplements with arginine, to improve nitric oxide levels. They provide other health advantages as well. L-Arginine, such as is found in ProArgi9 Plus is converted by the body into Nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide improves stamina and improves training abilities relative to your body weight. It helps you have more energy.

You Can Avoid Hardening of the Arteries

The coronary systemis one of the most important parts of the body and when it is not taken care of properly, several unhealthy conditions can arise like hardening of the arteries. Medically, it’s referred to as arteriosclerosis and often appears along with high blood pressure.

The arteries transport O2 and nutrients from the heart to the other parts of the body. Over time, fat deposits can build up in the arteries and harden which then reduces the supply of blood to the organs. When this is not properly handled, the arteries can be come blocked,or worse, the plaque can break free into the blood stream causing heart attacks or stroke.

There are several factors that are associated with hardening of the arteries which are categorized into modifiable and non-modifiable. The non-modifiable factors are those which you can’t change such as hereditary factors, advancing age, gender (males have a higher risk) and race. The modifiable factors are the ones that you can manage which include cigarette smoking, obesity and lack of exercise, eating a diet that is high in saturated fat, high blood pressure, diabetes and high LDL cholesterol levels.

The indicators and symptoms of hardening of the arteries depend on the location of the affected arteries. If it is happening in the arteries that supply the heart, you might experience chest pain, profuse sweating, shortness of breath and anxiety. Arteries that supply blood to the brain when affected will be manifested through numbness or weakness, paralysis typically in one half of the body, loss of speech, blindness and difficulty when swallowing. For the ones that supply the legs, severe leg pain will develop while you walk but disappear when you stop. Kidney failure and high blood pressure are the signs when the arteries affected supply the kidneys.

As to this date, there is no medically recognized cure for hardening of the arteries but the symptoms can be treated with anti-hypertensives, cholesterol decreasing medicines, diuretics and medications to control the chest pain. To re-open the artery when it is blocked, angioplasty is generally performed.

Even if there are non-modifiable factors for hardening of the arteries, you can do a lot to help decrease your risks. Life style changes are warranted and included smoking cessation, choosing a balanced diet that is low in fat and LDL cholesterol, getting enough exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Hardening of the arteries is a serious cardio vascular disorder so while you can, you have to prevent it.

Cardio Vascular Disease and Some of its Causes

Cardiovascular disorder is a general term given to describe a wide range of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. There are two main groups of risk factors. The first are those risk factors that can’t be changed, such family history or gender.

The second category of risk factors are those than can be affected by your choices and behaviours and include things like, obesity, high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, lack of exercise and adult onset diabetes. This is the more dangerous group of risk factors and will more often result in heart problems. However by modifying or eliminating these risks, we have the ability to reduce the chance of being afflicted with cardio vascular diseases.

The list of cardio vascular diseases includes rheumatic heart sickness, irregular heartbeat, stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure and congenital heart failure. As far as age is concerned, the majority of people in high risk groups are between 35 and 64 years old. That is an age range that’s younger than I would have expected, but then heart disease is a leading cause of death in America.

Due to the life style of many Americans the death rate will be even worse in the years to come, unless individuals are prepared to make some fairly drastic changes in the way they live. The high obesity rate in the United States in youngsters as well as adults is staggering. The stresses of high pressure urban life also contribute to the incidences of high blood pressure. Type II adult onset diabetes is no longer just an adult ailment, but also now a disease appearing among adolescents. Once again, looking for causes, the finger is pointed directly at obesity.

There is hope for reducing the incidence of heart disease. More information is available to the public about the high stakes involved in modifying the risk factors before a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease is made. But, the problem can be hidden until it is too late. A routine annual physical with your health care provider is a good step to take and an easy one. Listen to what you’re told about your personal risk factors. But honestly, your health is in your own hands. No one needs to be told if they’re overweight or inactive, but it seems that many people need a bit of a kick now and then to take the steps necessary to fix the problem.