Vitamins And Cardiovascular Health
Given that heart disease is the leading cause of death in America; our cardiovascular health should be of utmost importance to us. For some, the thought of measuring cholesterol levels and trans fat levels seems like a chore, while for others it becomes a welcome obsession compared to paying $202,475 annually for hospital bills, medications, doctor visits, tests and surgeries. The truth is, whether you’ve had high cholesterols and chronic heart failure in the past or you’re just looking to avoid it all together, there are some lifestyle modifications and vitamins that have been proven to help.
In a seven-year international study spanning more than 10,000 patients, researchers from the American Medical Association found that those taking vitamin E supplements had no fewer occurrences of heart disease, strokes or cancer. In fact, the risk was 13% higher! Less controversial studies find that vitamin E simply has a placebo effect and is neither harmful nor beneficial in treating heart disease, cancer and strokes. Most doctors can agree that vitamins will always be important for optimal body function, but can be toxic if taken at extreme levels.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and taking certain medications can prevent our uptake of vitamins and minerals, which made lead to a deficiency disease. For example, rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D, scurvy by a lack of vitamin C, beriberi by a lack of thiamin and pellagra by a lack of niacin. However, most of these deficiencies are due to very rigid diets or lack of nutrition in general and most people who eat a variety of foods and eat often will not encounter these painful diseases.
Some researchers say that vitamin C can help lower cholesterol, but the jury’s out on whether or not trials have proven successful enough to warrant advocacy. At this point, vitamins aren’t the magic “cure-all” we’d like them to be. The cold, hard facts are that we must endure a certain amount of restraint and hard work to protect ourselves from heart attacks and strokes.
By Health Editor
