The Unexpected Benefits of Vitamin C

by Brazos Minshew, TriVita Chief Science Officer

A professor of mine once told me that newly graduated doctors have 100 cures for every disease. Experienced doctors often use one remedy for 100 diseases. It seems that this is proving to be quite true with our old friend, Vitamin C.

The Best Vitamin C
There are many types of Vitamin C. Some supplements contain diverse minerals while others contain related ingredients like bioflavonoids. There are good reasons for each of these additions. Yet, time has not proven the fancier forms to be superior to the natural, non-acidic form of Vitamin C (sodium-L-ascorbate).

The primary pathway for Vitamin C transport into the bloodstream is through the sodium transport channel. Now, sodium has a really bad reputation because many of us put too much salt (sodium chloride) on our food. But, the fruits and vegetables we eat are naturally very high in sodium. Our blood is naturally high in sodium. In fact, the sodium content of our blood is about 32 times greater than the potassium level in our blood. It is comparable to the sodium content in sea water.

Dr. Libby’s Vital C has the best profile for absorption of this important nutrient.

New Uses For an Old Remedy
Three articles in medical literature recently caught my attention.

• Toxins
  The first one was a two-year-long discussion about the protective effects of Vitamin C against pesticides and other environmental toxins. This is important because we dump 2.5 million tons of pesticides into our biosphere every year (Environmental Medicine part 4, Dr. Walter Crinnon).The discussion of Vitamin C and pesticides was published in 2007 and 2008 in the journal Toxicology and Industrial Health. It clearly shows the protective effect of large amounts of Vitamin C against common environmental toxins.
• Cholesterol
  The second article appeared in the February 2008 edition of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. It demonstrated another benefit of Vitamin C in people with elevated cholesterol. You see, Vitamin C in the liver binds excess cholesterol and drains it through the bile ducts into the intestines. Fiber in the intestines soaks up the cholesterol and carries it out of the body. If our diet does not have enough fiber to eliminate the cholesterol we will likely reabsorb it. In fact, most of the cholesterol in our bloodstream has been excreted and reabsorbed numerous times.Vitamin C binds cholesterol and takes it out of the liver. Vitamin C also helps protect the lining of blood vessels – making them like Teflon to sticky LDL cholesterol. Instead of damaging the blood vessels, oxidized LDL slides off the walls of your arteries and is carried back to the liver by HDL cholesterol.
• Blood pressure
  The third article came from the October 2008 Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypertension. It clearly showed how large reservoirs of Vitamin C can help reduce high blood pressure. Antioxidants (especially Vitamin C) may reduce poisons in the tissues called aldehydes – think of the poison formaldehyde as a good example. Poisons drive up blood pressure; Vitamin C helps drive down poisons and can result in blood pressure reduction.

Conclusion
Health is built one habit at a time. The more we learn and live the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness, the healthier we become. Essential #4 tells us to eat nutritiously – including the proper use of supplements. Science is firmly behind using nutrients and nurturing to improve the quality of our lives.

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report January 24, 2009.

TriVita Asks, “Is Cholesterol Bad?”

Summary: Cholesterol and Your Heart: Where Do We Stand?
by Dr Brazos Minshew

Cholesterol. This article will explain the relationship between high cholesterol and heart disease, describe the different types of cholesterol, and review several ways to lower a high cholesterol level, including exercise, a low-fat diet, and medication.

What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol, judging from the thousands of food labels and TV commercials boasting “zero cholesterol” has quite a bad reputation. Cholesterol is a vital component of all cell membranes. Unfortunately, too high a concentration of cholesterol in the blood is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. A high cholesterol level is one of many risk factors for developing heart disease.

Where Does Cholesterol Come From?
Most of the cholesterol circulating in your blood is made in the liver from fat metabolism. Dietary cholesterol comes from animal products such as meat, milk, cheese and butter.

Cholesterol and fat are transported through the bloodstream in particles called lipoproteins, which are so named because they contain different proportions of lipid (fat) and protein molecules. Chylomicrons carry triglycerides (fat from the foods you eat) from the intestine to body tissues, where they are used for energy or stored as fat.

LDLs (Low Density Lipoproteins) are stuffed full of cholesterol. They hold about two-thirds of all the cholesterol in the blood. These particles, nicknamed “bad” cholesterol, are partially responsible for forming plaque (debris) along blood vessel walls. The more LDLs you have, the greater your risk of getting coronary artery disease or a heart attack.

HDLs (High Density Lipoproteins) are known as “good” cholesterol. Cholesterol and Heart Disease
Increased levels of cholesterol in the blood can contribute to atherosclerosis, which is the gradual build-up of cholesterol, fat, and fibrous debris along the walls of your arteries. In the heart arteries called coronary arteries this can lead to chest pain or angina when someone exerts themselves.

What’s Your Risk?
A high level of blood cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. But unlike other risk factors for heart disease that you can’t change or modify, such as age, sex, or a family history of heart disease, you can lower a high cholesterol level. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing heart disease.

Know Your Numbers
Cholesterol levels can be measured with a simple blood test. The higher the ratio (high total cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol), the greater your risk for coronary heart disease. Your doctor can help assess the degree of risk associated with your particular cholesterol values:

Lab Test	Desirable	Borderline	High Risk
Total Cholesterol	less than 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L)	200-239 mg/dL (5.2-6.1 mmol/L)	more than 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L)
LDL Cholesterol	less than 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L)	130-159 mg/dL (3.4-4.0 mmol/L)	more than 160 mg/dL (4.1 mmol/L)
HDL Cholesterol	More than 39 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L)	n/a	less than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L)
Triglycerides	less than 250 mg/dL (2.8 mmol/L)	n/a	more than 250 mg/dL (2.8 mmol/L)
Ratio of total Cholesterol:HDL	less than 3.5	3.6-4.9	more than 5

Ways to Lower Cholesterol
Is your cholesterol or ratio of cholesterol to HDL too high? The most effective ways to lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease include exercise, a low-fat diet and medication.

Exercise keeps your heart and blood vessels healthy. Exercise raises HDL, the “good” cholesterol.

The National Cholesterol Education Program’s (NCEP) dietary guidelines for lowering cholesterol have focused on lowering total fat, which often ends up increasing carbohydrate in the diet. Some nutrition experts have demonstrated that certain people on this diet may actually lower their HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol. This often leaves the ratio of cholesterol to HDL unchanged. Other dietary guidelines include lowering cholesterol intake, changing the type of fat you eat, and increasing fiber.

General Tips for a Cholesterol-Conscious Diet

Reduce Total Fat
Depending on your cholesterol profile, a reduction in total fat may be beneficial. Less fat in the diet means that there is less “raw material” for the liver to use in making cholesterol. Reduce Saturated Fat
The type of fat you eat is just as important as how much you eat. Since the liver makes cholesterol more efficiently from saturated than unsaturated fat, changing the type of fat you eat can help to lower your cholesterol. Reduce Partially Hydrogenated Fats or Trans Fats.

To prolong the shelf life of foods, particularly margarine, snack foods and baked products, manufacturers use liquid vegetable oils, which have been partially hardened to form trans fats. Eating a diet containing these products has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Many foods now specify their content of trans fats; reading food labels can help you avoid these substances

Increase Polyunsaturated Fats
The type of fat found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna is particularly healthful. Since bile, a substance that helps digest fat, is made primarily of cholesterol, excreting it will help lower total cholesterol levels. Intriguing research has shown that the vegetable protein in soy may be able to lower blood cholesterol.

A registered dietitian (RD) can help you plan a cholesterol-modifying diet that’s appropriate for your weight, height, activity level, and blood cholesterol profile.

Source: TriVita Article Cholesterol and Your Heart: Where Do We Stand?

Trivita’s 10 Secrets To A Healthy Heart

Like the Tin Man, your heart is one of your most valuable possessions. But, it’s not as simple as going to the Wizard of Oz and asking for a new one. You only have one heart, and it’s your job to make sure it lasts. These 10 helpful hints will help increase your chances of having a strong, healthy heart. 1.The American Heart Association (AHA) has reported that testing levels of an enzyme called GGT may predict the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. High levels of GGT indicate an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. The risk is even higher for people under 60. You should be able to request the test from your doctor, along with other critical heart markers such as CRP, LDL, and Homocysteine. 2. A healthy marriage reduces job-related stress, and lowers blood pressure, according to a recent report from the AHA. Keeping blood pressure low through emotional satisfaction, healthy diet, and exercise is critical in the healthy functioning of your heart. 3. Excessive body fat at a young age is an indicator of future cardiovascular problems. As a parent, grandparent, or caregiver for the young, be sure you are supporting children’s heart health by encouraging exercise and a healthy diet. 4. For adults, excessive body weight frequently leads to cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure. High blood pressure in turn increases an already risky situation for your heart. Consult your health care provider to find your best weight range, and keep your weight at that level to avoid complications from cardiovascular problems. 5. For obese or overweight men and women, the risk of heart attack and stroke was twice as high when high blood pressure was also a factor. 6. High cholesterol levels are never healthy, but the AHA has reported that men who keep themselves physically fit can cut their risk of cardiovascular-related death in half – even if they have high cholesterol. 7. Before visiting your health care provider, you may find it helpful to take a test online to calculate your risks for heart disease. The AHA offers a free quiz at www.americanheart.org/cld. 8. Men, in particular, have a well-deserved reputation for “toughing it out” whenever something hurts. When it comes to chest pain, there is no worse course of action. Particularly after age 40, all chest pains should be evaluated by your health care provider. If chest pain persists more than two minutes, or includes a feeling of heaviness in your chest, call 911 immediately. 9. Know all the signs of heart attack. Besides chest pain, symptoms can include: shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, cold sweats, and pain in the neck or arms. (Heart attacks start slowly with mild symptoms, leading to easy dismissal.) Never ignore the signs! 10. The amino acid homocysteine – which normally is an essential and good chemical in your body – can build up to harmful levels, and requires B-12, B-6 and folic acid to bring them back to safe levels. Eating whole foods such as citrus, tomatoes and other vegetables, and supplementing your diet with B vitamins is key to lowering homocysteine and protecting your heart. Source: VitaJournal January 2007 pg 11