Heart failure, also commonly referred to as congestive heart failure, is a condition in which your heart can no longer pump enough blood to supply the body. As a result of decreased blood supply, organs are not able to eliminate fluids and do not get an oxygen rich blood supply, which can lead to permanent damage or organ failure. While many medications can be taken to help your heart pump properly, a well-balanced diet rich in ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, can also help reduce your risk of heart failure. Please consult your physician before you start any diet or exercise program.
Why Ascorbic Acid Helps
Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is considered an antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that can help protect your cells against free radicals which can damage cells. Cell damage can play a role in heart disease and other conditions. As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps maintain and restore collagen which is the protein needed for blood vessel repair. If your body is deficient in vitamin C, the collagen needed can not repair blood vessels properly causing the body to use cholesterol to strengthen each vessels. In turn, this will lead to atherosclerosis which is the beginning factor to heart disease.
How Much Ascorbic Acid
The recommended daily allowance of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, can be achieved from food sources or from supplements. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, is it recommended that adult males take 75 mg per day of vitamin C and adult females take 60 mg per day. It is also recommended that if you are a smoker, which is linked to heart disease, than you should increase your vitamin C intake.
Sources High in Ascorbic Acid
Humans can not create ascorbic acid on our own, so we need to turn to food sources to achieve our daily values. The best sources of vitamin C include, but are not limited to, oranges, grapefruits, cantaloupe, strawberries, green peppers, broccoli, kale, kiwi, and papaya. Other great sources include sweet potatoes, cabbage, honeydew melons, Brussels sprouts, and lemons.
Too Much Ascorbic Acid
However beneficial ascorbic acid may be in your diet to help heart disease, mega dosing can lead to uncomfortable and potential serious side effects. Consuming up to 1,000 mg per day of vitamin C is considered safe for adults and what is not used by the body will be flushed out in urine, but you should consult your physician if any of these minor symptoms appear; nausea, mouth ulcers, gas, bloating, upset stomach and diarrhea.
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