New Benefits of Vitamin C Revealed
You may think of vitamin C primarily as an immune-boosting fighter of colds and flus. But this antixidant nutrient actually plays a number of different health-saving superhero roles, including: Cancer Fighter, Fat Burner, Joint Saver, Cataract Combatant, Gum Guardian, Wrinkle Warrior and Brain Booster! Two recent studies have uncovered two new disease-fighting roles that vitamin C can play.
Vitamin C: Gout Gladiator
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found a correlation between high vitamin C intake and reduced risk for gout, one of the most prevalent forms of inflammatory arthritis. This large-scale study involving 46,994 men found that for every 500 mg increase in daily vitamin C intake, risk for gout was cut by 17%. Those taking at least 1,500 mg daily saw their risk cut by 45%. (Choi HK et al. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009, 169 (5): 502-507.)
Vitamin C: Blood Pressure Reducer
Vitamin C may protect against blood pressure increases in young women, according to a new study out of UC Berkeley. Researchers followed subjects for a 10-year period and found that blood levels of vitamin C were inversely associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels. The effects were still observed after the researchers accounted for the women’s dietary intake of fat and sodium, making it easier for them to conclude that vitamin C intake was the blood pressure-reducing factor. This is the first study to establish a relationship between vitamin C levels and blood pressure in young women with normal blood pressure. (Block G et al. Nutrition Journal. 7:35 doi:10.1186/1475-2891-7-35.)
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: The reasons to take vitamin C are many. These two new research findings just add to the long list of vitamin C’s many disease-fighting roles. Make sure you are getting at least 1,000 mg a day for optimal benefits.
