All heart disease risk factors, 30 of them, are reduced in one simple way…plenty of antioxidants in the form of  vitamin C and glutathione… according to cardiologist and expert on vitamin C, Thomas Levy, M.D.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant vitamin.  Glutathione is a most powerful master defender and anti oxidant that guards your health.  The two work together. As antioxidants, both vitamin C and glutathione give up electrons to greedy free radicals…the instigators of all degenerative diseases.

In the case of vitamin C, it needs to have electrons replaced to continue it’s efficacy as an antioxidant. Glutathione does this.  If  inflammatory free radicals  are not reduced, serious problems occur with the heart and coronary artery disease.

LDL cholesterol plaque and calcium build up in the arteries and cause atherosclerosis. This literally is  “hardening of the arteries”. There is less flexibility in the arteries and accompanying cardiovascular inflammation.  This results in coronary artery disease, increased blood pressure, increased blood clotting and ultimately more heart attacks and strokes.

Glutathione helps the arteries by producing nitric oxide  (NO), a vasodilator. This relaxes the smooth muscle in the coronary arteries and reduces the risk of spasm that further reduces blood flow to heart muscle.  (Research confirms that glutathione increases NO, relaxes vascular spasm and improves blood flow.)  Most importantly, as an anti oxidant it reduces inflammation and neutralizes toxins. Vitamin C is also a key issue here.

Cardiologist Dr. Levy says:  “The scientific evidence clearly indicates that a focal vitamin C deficiency (“arterial scurvy”) in the endothelial linings of the arteries is the common link between atherosclerosis and all important coronary heart disease risk factors.”

Dr. Levy goes on to say about current medical literature:  “Atherosclerosis cannot be initiated without this condition of arterial scurvy existing first.”

Cardiologist Dr. Levy reports on a 2007 study that concludes, after heart attack, large oxidative damage occurs.  With diminished cardiac antioxidants like vitamin C and glutathione, the damage is more severe.

The bottom line is this:  maintain good levels of glutathione that come from a heart healthy diet of fresh vegetables, fruit, essential amino acids and especially additional alpha lipoic acid, L-carnitine, vitamins C & E, selenium and the omega 3′s. ..Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

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