The Health Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential, water-soluble, nutrient and a powerful antioxidant with a wide range of functions. It can’t be stored or produced in the human body, so you need to get your daily dose from eating fresh fruits and vegetables or vitamin C supplements.

Because this is such a vital ingredient for the body, it's important you get the right amount on a regular basis to support your immune system, skin health, collagen synthesis, and heart health.

What is vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a cofactor in various enzymatic reactions. High levels of this vitamin play an important role in the production of skin, bones, teeth, collagen, connective tissue, and red blood cells. Vitamin C is a necessary vitamin and essential nutrient needed to produce:

• Neurotransmitters: Important brain chemicals that support mental function, learning, mood, appetite, and sleep
• Collagen: An abundant structural protein found in skin, bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels
• Stress hormones
• Immune system cells

Additionally, the antioxidant properties of vitamin C allow it to hunt unstable, harmful, free radicals in the body, protecting your cells and molecules from oxidative damage. The high antioxidant activity of vitamin C may help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.

Health benefits of vitamin C:

Let's dive more in-depth into the science-backed health benefits of vitamin C and why you should consider increasing your daily dose.

1. Immunity

Vitamin C may help you fight off infections and reduce illness duration. It's involved in producing infection-fighting white blood cells and protects immune cells from being harmed by unstable free radicals.

This is one of the main reasons healthcare providers may recommend a glass of orange juice at the start of cold symptoms. This form of vitamin C is helpful for overall immune function.

A daily intake of vitamin C won’t protect most from colds. But it can shorten the amount of time you’re ill. If you already have a cold, vitamin C won’t affect the cold.

2. Healthy skin

You can find plenty of Vitamin C in skin cells where it promotes strong, elastic, and glowing skin. It can protect the skin from free radical damage and signs of premature aging.

This vitamin is a cofactor for collagen production and maintenance. Collagen is the skin's structural protein found in human skin, bones, blood vessels, muscles, and tendons.

This protein is especially important for your skin health. Clinical trials have also shown it speeds up wound healing and reduces damage from sun exposure.

3. Eye health

Vitamin C is one of many nutrients that play an important role in your eye health. Clinical research shows that vitamin C can help you avoid cataracts and vision loss in older adults.

Because this vitamin helps you prevent tissue damage and eliminate harmful free radicals, a high dietary intake of vitamin C works with vitamin E to protect your eyesight for a long time to come. You can protect against the progression of age-related macular degeneration when you start increasing your vitamin C intake at an early age.

4. Cardiovascular health

Research suggests the antioxidant properties of vitamin C protect the cardiovascular system and may reduce the risk of the world's number one killer, cardiovascular disease. Maintaining healthy vitamin C levels prevents the oxidation of cholesterol and lowers cholesterol levels, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and inflammation—all major risk factors for heart disease.

If you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, talk to your healthcare provider about the role of vitamin C in your preventative measures. Every step you take to avoid high blood pressure and strengthen your heart could help you prevent an untimely heart attack or heart disease diagnosis.

Best vitamin C foods

Most healthy adults can get their daily mg of vitamin C from a balanced diet. Check out some of these good sources of vitamin C:

• Citrus fruits (oranges, orange juice, lemon, lime, etc.)
• Berries, especially strawberries
• Broccoli
• Leafy greens
• Bell peppers
• Tomatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Brussel Sprouts

Many people struggle to get the five vegetables a day that nutrition experts recommend. Plus, cooking methods often deplete vitamin C levels in your food.

Risk factors for a vitamin C deficiency

While acute vitamin C deficiency, or Scurvy, isn't common in developed countries, many people still struggle with low vitamin C levels. Poor immunity, fatigue, anemia, bruising, and slow wound healing are all red flags for chronically low vitamin C and a sign that you need to up your intake!

Before you catch these early symptoms, knowing if you may be at high risk for vitamin C deficiency is important. Some of the factors that decrease vitamin C levels include:

• Stress
• Excessive sun exposure
• Intense exercise
• Pregnancy
• Cigarette Smoke
• Infections
• Poor diet
• Chronic illness/medical conditions

If you start to notice symptoms, speak to your healthcare provider or nutrition expert to see if a supplement may be right for you.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Final thoughts

From strengthening your immune system to nurturing your skin, vitamin C’s role in our health is undeniable. Start your health journey by adding vitamin C to your daily routine.

Source

1. Vitamin C - Health Professional Fact Sheet
2. The Long History of Vitamin C: From Prevention of the Common Cold to Potential Aid in the Treatment of COVID-19
3. Common colds: Does vitamin C keep you healthy? - InformedHealth.org - NCBI Bookshelf
4. Impaired Wound Healing - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
5. Vitamin C and the Lens: New Insights into Delaying the Onset of Cataract - PMC
6. Nutrients for Prevention of Macular Degeneration and Eye-Related Diseases - PMC
7. Vitamin C and Cardiovascular Disease: An Update - PMC