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Heart disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women around the world and also in the U.S. A weak heart and poor circulation are major causes of various heart related chronic diseases. One of the safest and easiest ways to make your heart stronger naturally and improve your cardiovascular health is by including Vitamin C & Magnesium in your diet.

One of the biggest myths surrounding cardiovascular diseases is that eating fat causes heart disease. People who eat a low fat diet typically eat more carbohydrates. A large scale study called "Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial" has confirmed this fact that a low-fat and high carb diet does not provide any protection from heart disease or other chronic illnesses. This large scale study involving 49,000 women found that eating a low-fat diet does not reduce the risk of heart disease.

In France, people eat high amounts of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat and yet have a low incidence of cardiovascular disease . This is known as the French Paradox. In reality, a balanced fat diet provides health benefits such as improved immunity and better bones, provided you eat more saturated fat (Butter, Cheese, Eggs, Coconut Oil), less polyunsaturated fat (Soybean, Corn, Safflower and Sunflower oil) and avoid trans fats (Partially Hydrogenated Oils).

Understanding the major causes of heart disease helps us to figure out how to prevent it in the first place. Here are some of the major causes:

• Stress
• Sedentary lifestyle
• High carbohydrate diet
• Magnesium deficiency
• Vitamin C deficiency

Scientists have found that Magnesium and vitamin C play a very important role in improving cardiovascular health naturally. Researchers have found that adding Magnesium to the diet makes the heart stronger. Addition of vitamin C to the diet has also been found to boost the cardiovascular health.

Natural vitamin C sources, also known as Ascorbic Acid, include:

• Citrus fruits such as limes, tangerines, oranges, lemons, rose hips and acerola cherries, and grapefruits.
• Vegetables such as green and red peppers, asparagus, parsley, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, and dark leafy greens.
• Indian gooseberry, popularly known as Amla in India, is very high in vitamin C.

Natural Sources of Magnesium are:

• Leafy green vegetables
• Whole grains, brown rice, avocado and dried apricot
• 1 cup sweet corn contains about 17% RDA of magnesium
• Broccoli, Okra and Spinach
• Banana & Apple

Both vitamin C and Magnesium can be added to the diet in the form of a supplement. Sodium Ascorbate is a buffered form of vitamin C which has a pH closer to 7. It is easily tolerated by most people. Magnesium is generally combined with Calcium in 1:2 ratios (because they occur in this ratio in the body) in most supplements.

References

1. Kung HC., et al. Deaths: final data for 2005. National Vital Statistics Reports. 2008;56(10).
2. The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. Low-Fat Dietary Pattern and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. JAMA. 2006;295:655-666.
3. Ferrieres J. The French paradox: lessons for other countries. Heart. 2004;90:107-111.
4. Kabara JJ. The Pharmacological Effects of Lipids. The American Oil Chemists Society. 1978,1-14.
5. Watkins BA., et al. Role of dietary lipid and antioxidants in bone metabolism. Nutrition Research. July 1997;17(7):1209-1228.
6. Rasmussen HS., et al. Magnesium deficiency in patients with ischemic heart disease with and without acute myocardial infarction uncovered by an intravenous loading test. Archives of Internal Medicine. February 1988;148(2):329-32.
7. Nyyssonen K., et al. Vitamin C deficiency and risk of myocardial infarction: prospective population study of men from eastern Finland. BMJ. March 1997;314:634.
8. Shechter M., et al. Oral Magnesium Therapy Improves Endothelial Function in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease. Circulation. 2000;102:2353.
9. Van Guilder GP., et al. Acute and chronic effects of vitamin C on endothelial fibrinolytic function in overweight and obese adult humans. The Journal of Physiology. July, 2008;586:3525-3535.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.