Fruit, Vegetables & Vitamin C: Recipe for Heart Health

A massive new randomized study adds even more evidence that diets that deliver a lot of vitamin C by being rich in fruits and vegetables are good for you and your heart. . . .

This huge study analyzed the dietary information of 83,256 people and also analyzed the plasma vitamin C levels of 3,512 people. The results show that the people who eat the most fruits and vegetables have a 13% lower risk of ischemic heart disease. Ischemic heart disease occurs when there is reduced blood flow to the heart. This fiinding is especially important because ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in most western countries.

The researchers also found that people who ate the most fruits and vegetables had a whopping 20% less risk of death from any cause during the study.

Their analysis found that the beneficial efffects of eating lots of fruits and vegetables is, at least in part, because of the large amount of vitamin C delivered by that diet. 

So getting lots of vitamin C from a fruit and vegetable rich diet is an important contributor to keeping your blood flowing and you living longer!

Am J Clin Nutr 2015;101:1135-43