Couch Potatoes Could Get As Much Benefit From Vitamin C As They Would Exercising
A recent study of Vitamin C supplements has had dramatic results. Scientists found that when they gave one group of overweight, sedentary people high doses of vitamin C, the people’s blood vessel tone improved significantly. After taking 500 mg of Vitamin C daily, the improvement was amazing. It was just as great as the benefits that the second group of subjects experienced after doing an intense exercise regimen, with the second group completing a program of brisk walking five to seven times a week.
Blood vessel tone is one measure of general cardiovascular health. The LA Times reports that although neither group lost weight, all the subjects achieved much healthier vascular tone. The findings could help people who cannot exercise at all because of injuries.
Should people use vitamin C pills as a substitute for exercise? The study’s lead author, Caitlin Dow, said that would be a mistake. Exercise has many other positive effects that people shouldn’t miss out on; it boosts mood and cognitive function, and lowers “bad” cholesterol, too.
