Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid. It is a water-soluble vitamin along with powerful antioxidant properties that make it highly beneficial for your body. You can get enough vitamin C from natural sources. You can get it through fruits like oranges, kiwis, strawberries, and vegetables like lemons, spinach, broccoli, kale, and bell peppers. But if you fail to meet its needs through the supplement, you can get it through a vitamin C supplement.
Vitamin C has amazing benefits for your body. It helps you in keeping healthy and active. The daily recommended intake of vitamin C for females is 75mg, whereas for males it is 90mg. Some of its benefits are as follows.
Reduces the risk of some diseases
Many diseases occur due to oxidative stress. It happens because many free radicals accumulate in your body, hence causing stress over your body. Since vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, it binds with those free radicals. Therefore, it protects you from infections and inflammations.
Lowers blood pressure
Hypertension is one of the major causes of death globally. It is a condition in which blood pressure remains higher than the normal limits. Vitamin C has proved to lower blood pressure, in both hypertensive and healthy individuals. It works by dilating the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the other organs.
On average, in hypertensive patients, vitamin C supplements reduce systolic blood pressure by 4.9mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 1.7mm Hg. However, if you are hypertensive, you should not depend on vitamin C supplements for treatment. You must take antihypertensive drugs prescribed by your physician.
Prevents gout
Gout is a condition in which the levels of uric acid are raised in your body, due to which arthritis occurs. It is a painful condition because joints swell up. According to the researches, vitamin C helps in lowering the levels of excess uric acid, hence helping in the prevention of gout and its exacerbation.
Prevents iron deficiency
Iron deficiency is a condition that causes anemia- a deficiency of red blood cells. In turn, many complications arise like difficulty in breathing, fatigue, lethargy, and body aches. Vitamin C helps in preventing iron deficiency because it enhances the absorption of iron. It happens because it turns the iron, especially which is plant-based into a form that is easy to absorb for the body.
Vitamin C is more helpful for people who are vegetarian and consume veggies to overcome iron deficiency. Therefore, while you eat something rich in iron like spinach or lentils, make sure you sprinkle lemon over it, as it will help in its absorption.
Taking vitamin C regularly helps in the prevention of iron deficiency, hence anemia. Therefore, if you have an iron deficiency anemia, consume enough vitamin C as well.
Help fight against infections
Vitamin C encourages the production of lymphocytes and phagocytes- the white blood cells that help in fighting against infections. Another benefit is that vitamin C helps white blood cells to function well because it protects them from degradation by harmful substances like free reactive oxygen species. Moreover, vitamin C is also present in the skin, which eventually serves as an antioxidant and boosts immunity.
Wonders to your skin
One of the most amazing things that vitamin C does to your body is it slows down aging. It happens because it binds with the free reactive oxygen species that are the main reason for aging. Due to its antioxidant properties, it prevents wrinkles, maintains the elasticity of your skin. Therefore, keep it looking fresh and young.
Conclusion
Vitamin C has amazing benefits for your body. It helps in keeping you young, healthy, and active. Its benefits can be summed up as follows.
- Boosts your immunity
- Imparts glow to your skin
- Lowers the risk of cancers
- Lowers the exacerbation of gout
- Protects you from infections
- Reduces inflammation
- Keeps blood pressure under control
- Lowers elevated levels of serum uric acid
- Slows down aging
- Lowers the risk of heart attacks
- Keeps your bones, cartilages, and teeth strong