Research suggests that vitamin C may give you some of the same heart benefits as regular exercise.  A study from the University of Colorado, Boulder examined the effects of vitamin C supplements on overweight and obese adults.  This group of people is often advised to exercise to improve their heart health but more than 50% ignore the advice. In a presentation at the 14th International Conference on Endothelin: Physiology, Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, the Colorado researchers revealed that taking a 500 mg time-released vitamin C supplement every day can have similar cardiovascular benefits as regular exercise in these adults. The researchers noted that the blood vessels of overweight and obese people have elevated activity of a protein called endothelin-1 (ET-1).  This protein constricts small blood vessels making them less responsive to blood flow demand.  That increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Exercise has been shown to reduce ET-1 activity.  But …