5 benefits of Vitamin C, among many others, include:
- An antioxidant
- Boosts immune system
- May improve iron absorption
- Protects your memory
- Anti-ageing
The science behind vitamin C
Vitamin C is not produced inside our bodies; meaning we need to ingest it.
It is water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, and spinach.
Being water-soluble it cannot be made or stored in the body (unlike fat-soluble vitamins which can be stored).
Vitamin C is a powerhouse vitamin with an array of benefits. Like a highly skilled “odd-job” man it goes around the body growing and repairing almost all tissues. It acts as one of our avengers in the fight against free radicals and boosts our immune systems.
Unfortunately, many of us are deficient.
In 2006 a study found that 42% of the US did not have adequate levels of vitamin C to help prevent illness. To put this into context, 42% of people had Vitamin C levels below the minimum amount required to prevent scurvy!!
Lets take a closer look at 5 scientifically proven benefits:
1. Vitamin C, the antioxidant
As an antioxidant its main role is protecting us from oxidative stress where free radicals can cause damage to our cells. Oxidation is a naturally occurring, chemical process that causes the loss of electrons. A compound that has been oxidized is called a free radical. Free radicals are very reactive—meaning that it wants to connect to other compounds as quickly as possible.
Free radicals that do not have a scripted next step can be highly damaging. Antioxidants are like Gandalf guiding the hobbits to Mordor. Giving them a path keeps them from being destructive.
2. Vitamin C may boost immunity
Vitamin C may help boost immunity by improving white blood cell production and function. It also helps wounds heal faster and strengthens the skins defence pathways as a barrier against pathogens.
This is your avenger function: vitamin C is Thor’s hammer. He uses the hammer much the way white blood cells need vitamin C, to give them strength.
More anecdotally people with poor health outcomes seem to consistently have lower levels of vitamin C.
3. Vitamin C may improve iron absorption
Low levels of iron or anaemia are on the rise. Globally up to 29% or half a billion women worldwide might be anaemic.
Iron from food comes in two forms:
- Heme iron, which is easily absorbed by the body and found only in animal flesh.
- And non-heme iron, which is not as easily absorbed and is found in a wide variety of plant sources and animal flesh (as they also can consume plants.)
Vegetarians and vegans have been shown to be more susceptible to iron deficiency. Interestingly people on these diets have also been shown to consume on average the same amount of iron as omnivores. The fact they consume it in a less bioavailable form might account for the discrepancy in absorption.
Supplementing with vitamin C has been shown to help absorb non-heme iron by storing it in a form that is easier for the body to capture.
4. Our super supplement might protect your memory
Vitamin C might protect against dementia. Low levels of vitamin C have been associated with poor memory function in the elderly.
Dementia is a broad term used to describe a chronic loss of memory and intellect, mostly found in the older population.
Not only have low levels of this super vitamin been associated with poor memory but it seems that supplementing with it has a protective mechanism. In a study conducted in Sydney researchers observed levels of vitamin C in older patients. They used a modified mini mental state exam to test the subject’s cognition. Accounting for age, gender and other associative factors like smoking they found supplementing with vitamin C and E delayed the onset of memory loss.
5. It may promote healthy skin, bones and joints
For all the botox and face lifts prevalent in today’s society, you could save yourself a bunch and just boost your vitamin C levels.
Vitamin C is one of the building blocks for collagen, which in turn promotes brighter, tighter, and fresher skin. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition higher intake of vitamin C can help with skin appearance and fewer wrinkles.
I think we can all agree vitamin C is quite impressive. It is well researched, safe and effective. On top of all that we have the perfect supplements to help boost your levels. So good you can make mocktails with them. Or gummies, see our recipe for creamy lime gummies.
So, what Vitamin C do we recommend?
Cymbiotika Synergy Liposomal Vitamin C
Eden Healthfoods Wild Vitamin C Powder
Organic Green Vitamin C 100g Powder
Organic Green Vitamin C Vegan Capsules
Changing Habits Vitamin C Powder
OR what amazing products contain Vitamin C?
Foraged for You , the Mothers Blend
