Is Your Heart Irritated?
Bodywide inflammation is a red flag. Down the road, it can mean problems like heart attacks or atherosclerosis. So soothe your heart and arteries with this: vitamin C.
Yep, vitamin C has yet another health benefit. It may help bring down levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) -- a marker of bodywide inflammation and irritation.
Inflammation Blues
Research suggests that heart disease is somehow tied in with the body's inflammatory processes. And if CRP goes way up, it could be a sign that these inflammatory processes are poised to give your ticker trouble. Enter vitamin C. When people with abnormally high levels of CRP took 1000 milligrams of C daily, after 2 months they had 25 percent less CRP than the folks on a placebo. Get the lowdown on how much C you need -- and the delicious foods that provide it!
Keep the Flames at Bay
In addition to getting adequate amounts of vitamin C in your diet, keep in mind these other inflammation-cooling, heart-saving lifestyle tips:
- Drop a few pounds. If you need to. RealAge has three different weight loss programs that can help you lose a smidge or a bunch.
- Move a little. Just enough. You don't have to be a triathlete to protect your heart with exercise.
- Eat beans. And other heart-healthy, inflammation-fighting foods. Here's why beans are such a great addition to your diet.
RealAge Benefit:
Keeping your high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level in the normal range can make your RealAge 4 years younger.
Vitamin C treatment reduces elevated C-reactive protein. Block, G. et al., Free Radical Biology & Medicine 2009 Jan 1;46(1):70-77.
