(NaturalHealth365) Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of risk factors that increase your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These risk factors include high blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, extra fat around the waist, and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

Once you have three or more of these risk factors, it results in a metabolic syndrome risk and means you’re at risk for serious health complications.

It’s currently estimated that nearly 40% of Americans have metabolic syndrome, and beyond increasing the risk of heart problems and diabetes, one recent study found a link between metabolic syndrome and vitamin C deficiency. And for those with metabolic syndrome, getting the normal recommended amount of vitamin C may not be enough.

Editor’s Note: Click here to register for the Fatty Liver Docu-Class … because a fatty liver is a precursor to metabolic syndrome and on “Day 9” of the Fatty Liver Docu-Class, you’ll see the “Best of the Metabolic Syndrome Docu-Class,” hosted by yours truly, Jonathan Landsman.

Poor eating habits create a cycle of depleted antioxidant protection

Poor eating habits – specifically a diet high in processed sugars and toxic fats – cause chronic low-grade inflammation that can result in the development of metabolic syndrome. This recent study published in Redox Biology also suggests that the same eating habits that may lead to metabolic syndrome cause imbalances within the gut microbiome.

Impaired gut function contributes to additional toxins in the blood. This, in turn, results in the depletion of vitamin C, subsequently impairing vitamin E trafficking in the body.

Since vitamin C protects vitamin E, if you don’t have enough vitamin C, then your vitamin E also gets lost – which means you end up without both of these essential antioxidants. And this only makes a bad situation worse, since vitamins E and C both help defend the body from oxidative stress caused by inflammation and free radicals, which may cause damage to the body’s cells.

In other words, without intervention, this cycle continues to repeat itself – resulting in a severe increase in disease risk for these individuals.

Vitamin C does the heavy lifting for the immune system

Science backs up the fact that vitamin C is a ‘powerhouse’ antioxidant that does a lot of the heavy lifting for the immune system. In fact, evidence shows that healthy levels of vitamin C in the body can eradicate most acute infections and even neutralize many toxin exposures, including many serious health issues.

Vitamin C is far more than just the premier antioxidant circulating through your body – it also stimulates and promotes many of the essential functions of your immune system.

For those with metabolic syndrome, the link to vitamin C deficiency is serious, since it leaves these individuals with a weaker immune system that’s more susceptible to disease. And individuals with metabolic syndrome may eat the same amount of this vitamin as others but continue to have lower levels of vitamin C in the body.

The takeaway: if you have metabolic syndrome, you’ll need even more vitamin C than most people do.

Increase vitamin C levels by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. You may also want to consider adding a vitamin C supplement to your diet to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin C.  Keep in mind a simple rule, the sicker you are … the more you need vitamin C, on a daily basis.

Sources for this article include:

NutritionReview.org
NIH.gov
NaturalHealth365.com
Healthline.com
NaturalHealth365.com