Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, and it has many roles in your body and has impressive health benefits. It is water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, and spinach.
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can strengthen your body’s natural defenses. Antioxidants are molecules that boost the immune system. They do so by protecting cells from harmful particles called free radicals.
High blood pressure puts you at risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death globally. Studies have shown that vitamin C may help lower blood pressure in those both with and without high blood pressure. Vitamin C supplements lead to a reduced risk of heart disease. These supplements may lower heart disease risk factors, including “bad” LDL cholesterol and blood triglycerides.
Vitamin C-rich foods and supplements may help to reduce blood uric acid levels and lower the risk of gout. Gout symptoms appear when there is too much uric acid in the blood. At high levels, it may crystallize and deposit in the joints. Interestingly, several studies have shown that vitamin C may help reduce uric acid in the blood and, as a result, protect against gout attacks.
Vitamin C supplements can help improve the absorption of iron from the diet. Vitamin C assists in converting iron that is poorly absorbed, such as plant-based sources of iron, into a form that is easier to digest. As a result, vitamin C may help reduce the risk of anemia among people prone to iron deficiency.
One of the main reasons people take vitamin C supplements is to boost their immunity. Vitamin C is involved in many parts of the immune system. First, vitamin C helps encourage the production of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and phagocytes, which help protect the body against infections. Second, vitamin C helps these white blood cells function more effectively while protecting them from damage by potentially harmful molecules, such as free radicals. Third, vitamin C is an essential part of the skin’s defense system.
Studies suggest that oxidative stress and inflammation near the brain, spine, and nerves (altogether known as the central nervous system) can increase the risk of dementia. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant. Low levels of this vitamin lead to an impaired ability to think and remember. High vitamin C intakes from food or supplements have been shown to have a protective effect on thinking and memory with age.
Collagen and elastin are both naturally occurring protein fibers that help keep skin plump and firm. So, in helping to promote collagen production, topical vitamin C can help prevent premature aging of the skin. It contains a property that inhibits your skin’s melanin production, which is what causes skin discoloration like dark spots and hyper-pigmentation.
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People who get little or no vitamin C (below about 10 mg per day) for many weeks can get scurvy. Scurvy causes fatigue, inflammation of the gums, small red or purple spots on the skin, joint pain, poor wound healing, and corkscrew hairs. Additional signs of scurvy include depression as well as swollen, bleeding gums and loosening or loss of teeth. People with scurvy can also develop anemia.
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Team Doctor ASKY!