We’ve all heard how you should eat foods that are high in Vitamin C or take Vitamin C supplements. But do you know why? In this article we’ll discuss the many reasons why Vitamin C is essential for your wellbeing. Let’s get started!
What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, most commonly known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient that your body needs to function at its best. Your body can’t produce Vitamin C on its own, but it’s found in many fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. Meaning, it can dissolve in water, but it won’t be stored in your body for long. This is why you need to eat foods high in Vitamin C or add in some supplements daily.
Foods High In Vitamin C include:
- Bell Peppers
- Guava
- Blackcurrants
- Strawberries
- Kiwi
- Chili Peppers
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Potatoes
- Broccoli
- Tomato and Tomato Juice
- Kale
- Cauliflower
- Cantaloupe
- Brussels Sprouts
Why Is Vitamin C Important? What Does Vitamin C Do In Your Body?
Most importantly, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. This means that it supports your immune system and your body’s natural defense system against harmful viruses and even regular colds. As the antioxidants help fight inflammation, Vitamin C is the perfect way to boost your immunity.
Likewise, its antioxidant properties help neutralize free radicals that cause oxidative stress aka cell damage. When your cells get damaged, it causes premature aging all over your body – inside and out. Moreover, other harmful cells may start to develop.
The same protection is also needed for your brain. Oxidative stress can have a very harmful effect on your cognitive function. To keep your focus and improve your memory, you should try to fight free radicals at all costs.
Not only does Vitamin C provide you with antioxidants, it also helps increase the absorption of iron. Why is that important? Iron helps carry oxygen throughout your body. If you’re deficient in iron, this can result in anemia with symptoms like weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath.
Furthermore, Vitamin C is essential for the production of other compounds like collagen, L-carnitine, tyrosine and neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters, for instance, send out signals throughout your body’s nerve cells and muscles. Neurotransmitters ensure that your body functions properly and they work non-stop.
Collagen is the compound that keeps your skin looking healthy and plump. It is also crucial for healthy joints, bones, blood vessels and wound healing, as it is a type of protein that makes up connective tissue in your body.
Moreover, Vitamin C promotes wound healing also thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. So if you’ve had a surgery recently, this might be a good supplement to reach out for! Also, if you suffer from allergies, reducing inflammation should be your goal.
PS! You can read more about inflammation from here.
Studies have shown that a higher consumption of Vitamin C reduces the risk of wrinkles and skin dryness, and can improve skin elasticity and moisture levels. As you age, your body starts producing less and less collagen, which ultimately leads to older looking skin. This makes Vitamin C the perfect supplement to add to your anti-age routine.
Even more, smoking, eating excess sugar and being in the sun without an SPF will further decrease collagen levels. Something to keep in mind!
Likewise, Vitamin C is essential for a healthy heart. It promotes healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It also supports blood vessels and arteries and promotes proper circulation. Keep these in check and you’ll be at a much lower risk of developing heart disease.
Last but not least, let’s talk about severe Vitamin C deficiency – scurvy. Although scurvy isn’t very common these days anymore, it’s still a serious problem that needs urgent attention.
The early signs of scurvy are weakness and exhaustion, irritability, loss of appetite, low fever, diarrhea and aching joints and muscles. Untreated scurvy can develop into anemia and show more serious symptoms like gum bleeding, easy bruising, painful and swollen joints, chest pain, dry hair and eye irritation.
If you’ve been Vitamin C deficient for more than three months, the symptoms can be very severe. These include pain and swelling all over your body, fever, tooth loss, numbness in limbs, convulsions, slow-healing wounds, jaundice (skin and eyes turning yellow) and even organ failure.
Fortunately, most of us still get at least some amount of Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables, so this is a rather rare health condition. However, important nonetheless!
Why Is Our Vitamin C Special?
On to the big question… Why is our Vitamin C so special? Easy. We’ve added a ton of different bioflavonoids to our formulation for maximum absorption.
Studies have shown that Vitamin C and bioflavonoids work in synergy to support your immune system, but also provide a more targeted support for blood vessels. Furthermore, bioflavonoids increase the absorption of Vitamin C, as it provides a sustained release of Vitamin C. This means that your body won’t excrete higher doses of Vitamin C as quickly and absorbs more of it.
Our Vitamin C-1000 Complex is formulated with Citrus Bioflavonoids, Rutin, Hesperidin, Quercetin, Acerola and Rose Hips. Let’s quickly go over each ingredient and explain them a little.
Citrus Bioflavonoids are a powerhouse of antioxidants. Citrus Bioflavonoids help fight free radicals, reduce inflammation and help support your body’s defense system aka your immunity. They’re also great to combat allergic reactions. The antioxidant properties help reduce oxidative stress and thus support your heart and brain health. Similarly to the benefits of Vitamin C.
Rutin is another bioflavonoid, which helps Vitamin C to be absorbed better by your body. It also helps your body to produce more collagen, supports blood circulation and prevents the formation of blood clots, helps manage healthy cholesterol levels and combat oxidative stress and inflammation.
Hesperidin is a bioflavonoid found mainly in unripe citrus fruits. Much like Rutin, Vitamin C and Citrus Bioflavonoids, it supports your cognitive health and can reduce the risk of heart disease.
Fun Fact: some studies have shown that Hesperidin can be helpful in treating hemorrhoids!
Quercetin is another amazing flavonoid, which functions as an antioxidant. Quercetin is found in onions, citrus fruits, tea, apples, capers and broccoli. Likewise, it can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, support your brain and heart health and ease allergy symptoms.
Acerola is a cherry-like plant that’s very high in Vitamin C and, of course, antioxidants. Moreover, Acerola contains calcium, iron, Vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorus and thiamine.
Rose Hips, as the name suggests, are found in rose plants, just below the rose petals. They’re high in Vitamin C and provide tons of antioxidants. Another great ingredient to reduce inflammation, promote collagen production, reduce joint pain and support your heart. And let’s not forget the immunity boost!
Fun Fact: a study showed that Rose Hips may help with fat loss thanks to an antioxidant called tiliroside, which seems to increase fat metabolism.
To summarize, Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients your body needs for many-many functions. Eating foods high in Vitamin C is necessary, but a lot of the times our bodies might need a bit more for the most benefits. We hope this article gave you some more insight into the importance of Vitamin C and how you can get the most out of it.
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