Vitamin C also known as Ascorbic Acid is an essential vitamin that benefits your health
And one that your body does not produce so you must consume it through diet or use supplements.
It is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that you do not store it, so you eat a balanced diet to maintain levels.
Here are three benefits of Vitamin C
Anti-oxidant
Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant, the role of anti-oxidants is to clear Free Radicals from the body. Free radicals are a waste product of the food conversion process and damage cells.
Anti-oxidants can help prevent Cardio Vascular Diseases, high blood pressure and may lower LDL )bad) cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood
Strengthens the immune system
Anti-bacterial and anti-viral Vitamin C helps fight bacteria and infections,
It is also a natural anti-histamine, reducing inflammation
Vitamin C encourages white blood cell production and help protect us from infection
It also protects those cells from free radicals
Makes Collagen
Collagen is a protein that provides structure to our skin, bones and muscles and the ligaments and tendons in our joints, a kind of glue
It also helps keep our arteries elastic
Vitamin C is needed for your body to produce collagen
As we age, we produce less collagen which is noticeable in our skin and stiff joints
Being deficient in Vitamin C can have an adverse effect on your health, think back to sailors of old and the scurvy that affected them, oranges on voyages were very common once the link was made between the disease and low vitamin C
Signs of deficiency include
Frequent Colds and infections
Slow wound healing
Easy bruising
Lack of energy
You should be able to get enough Vitamin C from a balanced diet
Foods that contain Vitamin C include
Peppers (highest amount of Vit C)
Brocolli
Cabbage
Oranges and Lemons
Kiwi
Strawberries
Most vitamins and minerals work in a symbiotic way, meaning they need each other to work efficiently.
Vitamin C helps your body absorb Iron, this is especially important for Iron consumed from non-meat sources so if you are vegetarian or vegan making sure you eat the two together is vital
Also, certain foods block the absorption of Iron such as coffee and tea
You can also take supplements if you feel you cannot get enough through your diet, the recommended RDA for Vitamin C is 60mg although some believe it should be higher and in many countries it is
If you liked this post why not try Living your best life……Principals of Health
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