3 ways that vitamin C can help us
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that our body cannot produce. However, it plays many roles and has been associated with impressive health benefits.
It is water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwis, green peppers, broccoli, leafy greens, and spinach.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin C is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men.
While it is generally recommended to get your daily dose of vitamin C from foods, many people turn to supplements to meet their needs.
Here are 3 scientifically proven benefits of taking vitamin C.
1. Boosts Immunity
One of the main reasons people take vitamin C supplements is to boost their immune system, as vitamin C is involved in many of its functions. Vitamin C helps produce white blood cells such as lymphocytes and phagocytes, which help protect the body against infections.
Additionally, vitamin C is an integral part of the skin’s defense system. It is transported to the skin, where it acts as an antioxidant and helps strengthen the skin’s barriers. Furthermore, low vitamin C concentrations have been linked to difficulty in dealing with certain health issues. For example, people with pneumonia tend to have lower vitamin C levels, and vitamin C supplements have been shown to speed up recovery time.
2. Helps combat iron deficiency
Iron is an important nutrient that plays a role in various bodily functions. It is essential for the production of red blood cells and the transport of oxygen throughout the body.
Vitamin C supplements can help improve the absorption of dietary iron. Vitamin C helps convert forms of iron that are not well absorbed, such as those from plant sources, into a form that is more easily absorbed by our body.
This is especially useful for people following a vegetarian diet, as meat is one of the most important sources of iron. Consuming 100 mg of vitamin C can improve iron absorption by 67%. As a result, vitamin C can help reduce the risk of anemia in people prone to iron deficiency.
3. It may reduce the risk of chronic diseases
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can boost your body’s natural defenses. Antioxidants are molecules that enhance the immune system. They do this by protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. When free radicals accumulate, they can induce a condition known as oxidative stress, which has been associated with many chronic diseases. Studies show that consuming more vitamin C can increase the levels of antioxidants in your blood by up to 30%. This helps the body’s natural defenses to combat inflammation.
Conclusion
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that should be obtained from the diet or through dietary supplements.
It has been associated with many impressive health benefits, such as increasing antioxidant levels in the blood, improving iron absorption, and boosting our body’s defenses.
Overall, vitamin C supplements are an excellent and simple way to increase vitamin C intake if you have difficulty obtaining sufficient amounts through your diet.
