Health Benefits of Vitamin C - Effects on the Body



Benefits of Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is the most important antioxidant in our body, used to fight off inflammation caused by oxidative damage, thereby helping each and every cell within to repair quickly.

As you continue, you'll learn about several of health benefits that come from getting enough "C" in your diet. However, there's one myth that needs to be dispelled before proceeding.

The Cold & Flu Myth.

This antioxidant gets most of its fanfare during cold and flu season. The thinking being that vitamin C helps to ward these infections off. There's no scientific evidence to support this commonly accepted notion.

To put this myth to rest, the only reason taking vitamin C would hold any benefit to cold and flu sufferers would be if you're deficient to begin with. You might fight off the symptoms more quickly when taking a supplement, IF you don't get enough of it with your regular diet, but don't expect to get fewer occurrences from taking it.

Recommended Daily Dose (mg).

0-1 year: 50.
Ages 1-3: 15.
Ages 4-8: 25.
Ages 8-18: 80.
Male Adults: 90-500.
Female Adults: 75-500.
During Pregnancy: 90-500.
While Breast Feeding: 120-1000.
* Smokers should aim for at least 250 mg per day, as increased inflammation from this habit causes the body to use more vitamin C to maintain optimal health.

Top Dietary Sources of Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is only found in veggies and fruits. In general, the brighter the color, the more "C" you'll get.

The list provided below shows the top food sources, in ascending order.

Foods rich in Vitamin C:.

Veggies (mg):.

1/2 cup of colored peppers: 101-144.
1/2 cup of green peppers: 63.
1/2 cup chopped broccoli: 54.
1 cup of red cabbage: 54.
4 brussel sprouts: 50.
1/2 cup of kohlrabi: 47.
1/2 cup of snow peas: 41.
1/2 cup of cauliflower: 28.
1/2 cup of kale: 28.
1/2 cup of rapini: 24.
1 medium sized potato: 21.
1/2 cup of bok choy: 23.
1 medium sized sweet potato: 22.
6 spears of asparagus: 22.
1/2 cup of turnip tops (greens): 21.
1/2 cup of collard greens: 18.
1 medium sized tomato: 16.
1/2 cup of tomato sauce: 15.
Fruits:.

1 regular guava fruit: 206.
1 large papaya: 188.
1 grapefruit: 95.
1 large kiwi: 84.
1 medium sized orange: 75.
10 lychees: 69.
1 mango: 58.
1 avocado: 52.
1/2 cup strawberries (not chopped): 52.
1/2 cup pineapple (chopped): 45.
1 clementine: 36.
1/2 cup of cantaloupe: 31.
1/2 cup of fortified juices (apple, orange, grape, grapefruit, pineapple): 29-70.
1/2 cup of soursop: 25.
1 medium tangerine: 22.
1/2 cup of persimmon: 17.
1/2 cup of berries (blackberries, raspberries, blueberries): 17.
Benefits of Vitamin C.

Diabetes:.

Low levels of circulating vitamin C, combined with low insulin levels means diabetics are more susceptible to the effects of free-radical damage. Vitamin C also reduces glycosylated hemoglobin levels (sugar adhering to red blood cells) which causes slow wound healing, high blood pressure, neuropathy and numerous other health problems.

Eye Health:.

As an antioxidant, vitamin C prevents cataracts, which are caused by sunlight, to cloud up our eyes. A healthy human eye will contain loads of concentrated vitamin C; poor intake is one of the leading causes of cataracts, next to excessive sun exposure.

Asthma:.

Asthma is a disease resulting from excessive inflammation in the airways and lungs. Vitamin C controls inflammation and has proved instrumental in treating and preventing symptoms (see study). Asthmatics can benefit from doses of 1000-2000 mg daily.

Faster Healing:.

Because "C" reduces oxidative stress on cells and reduces inflammation, adequate levels in the body will also promote faster healing than would occur with those with poor dietary intake of the vitamin.

Cardiovascular Health:.

Free radical damage inside the walls of our arteries leaves them vulnerable to plaque, which is caused by circulating cholesterol and fatty acids forming together (i.e., arteriosclerosis). Vitamin C is beneficial to prevent plaque formation and also helps to reduce it when plaque has already begun.

Cancer Prevention & Treatment:.

Cancer is caused by cumulative oxidative stress in the areas of the body affected by cancers of all kinds. Vitamin C is directly responsible for removing free radicals before they cause damage, making it essential for prevention and treatment of all types of cancer.

Weight Loss:.

Obese people have lower levels of circulating vitamin C in their body; most likely due to a poor diet. Increasing your dose of vitamin C significantly lowers levels adiponectin, a fat-suppressing hormone shown to dramatically decrease waist circumference and over all body-mass-index numbers. Learn more about vitamin C deficiency and its link to obesity here.

Summary.

Our bodies do not manufacture vitamin C, putting it at the top of the list of 13 essential vitamins that we must get via diet to maintain optimal health. Anyone who's taken a middle-school history class knows Vitamincforopiatewithdrawal.Com about scurvy and its effects on early sea-farers, but many of the effects caused by deficiency today are silent killers, slowly robbing us of our health and youthful exuberance.

At the very least, consider taking a quality supplement, chelated or liquid form, to ensure optimal health - now and in the future.


Low levels of circulating vitamin C, combined with low insulin levels means diabetics are more susceptible to the effects of free-radical damage. Vitamin C also reduces glycosylated hemoglobin levels (sugar adhering to red blood cells) which causes slow wound healing, high blood pressure, neuropathy and numerous other health problems.

Vitamin C controls inflammation and has proved instrumental in treating and preventing symptoms (see study). Obese people have lower levels of circulating vitamin C in their body; most likely due to a poor diet. Increasing your dose of vitamin C significantly lowers levels adiponectin, a fat-suppressing hormone shown to dramatically decrease waist circumference and over all body-mass-index numbers.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *