{"id":1522,"date":"2018-04-25T07:14:21","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T07:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=1522"},"modified":"2021-10-11T03:13:56","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T03:13:56","slug":"20-outstanding-vitamin-c-benefits-for-overall-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/20-outstanding-vitamin-c-benefits-for-overall-health\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Outstanding Vitamin C Benefits For Overall Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Vitamin C is the most abundant vitamin around. It is naturally present in most foods and numerous supplements are marketed for the various individual benefits that it gives. In fact, it is probably the most important dietary component in any meal.<\/p>\n

Vitamin C is most commonly known as L-ascorbic acid. Aside from being a powerful antioxidant, it is required for the biosynthesis of collagen, L-carnitine, neurotransmitters, and even in protein metabolism. It is considered a \u2018super vitamin\u2019, and that\u2019s because it\u2019s basically an-all around nutrient. It is responsible for keeping your hair, skin, cells, tissue, muscle, gums, and even your brain healthy.<\/p>\n

If you want to be healthy, you will definitely need vitamin C in your arsenal. This particular vitamin has so many benefits to the human body that it is virtually impossible to list them all. So here are 20 outstanding benefits for you to start reaping.<\/p>\n

1. Boosts Immunity and Collagen<\/h3>\n

Vitamin C<\/a> is known as the ultimate nutrient to maintain your immune system. When vitamin C enters the body, it stimulates the immune system by enhancing the strength and protective qualities of cells and organisms. According to doctors, taking a daily dose of vitamin C can accelerate the healing process in injuries and wounds. In fact, vitamin C is known to improve the quality of collagen, which speeds up the process of healing.<\/p>\n

However, vitamin C not only improves collagen, but it also helps in producing it. 70% of all protein found in your skin is collagen. Collagen is responsible for maintaining the elasticity of your skin, keeping it looking young and fresh.<\/p>\n

Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant, which allows your body to combat harmful radiation. If you take your optimal amount of vitamin C every day, this is probably the reason why your skin always feels and appears healthier.<\/p>\n

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2. Boosts Energy<\/h3>\n

When you have a demanding daily work schedule, you probably feel really fatigued all the time. If getting the right amount of sleep might not be helping you eliminate fatigue anymore, you might want to consider loading up on vitamin C. According to doctors, having an optimal dose of vitamin C can successfully reduce work-related fatigue.<\/p>\n

Not only that, but it can also improve physical activity and mobility. Vitamin C is known to increase the body\u2019s metabolism<\/a>, which increases overall energy levels. It also synthesizes the molecule called carnitine, which is essential in transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria. The mitochondria are responsible for converting into energy. Hence, more vitamin c; more energy.<\/p>\n

Doctors recommend at least a glass of orange juice in the morning and a pill supplement to help boost your energy for the day ahead. Some vitamin C supplements even package themselves as energy boosters specifically.<\/p>\n

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3. Repairs Wounds and Injuries<\/h3>\n

Your mom probably kept telling you to take your vitamins<\/a> as a kid because they were good for you, and if you were an active playground warrior, it actually was. Vitamin C\u2019s major function is contributing to the production of collagen. Collagen is essential for wound healing because it helps the body form new tissues. In fact, collagen is the most important protein in connective tissue.<\/p>\n

Since vitamin C can also boost the immune system, it also helps to heal wounds and injuries much faster. Doctors usually recommend patients with open wounds and stitches to have a daily dose of vitamin C. This aids in the healing process over time. Since the body doesn\u2019t store vitamin C, it\u2019s important to intake daily.<\/p>\n

Vitamin C\u2019s assistance in collagen production and immune system modulators both play a powerful role in wound repair. In fact, this makes vitamin C the most important supplement for your injuries.<\/p>\n

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4. Boosts Iron Absorption<\/h3>\n

Iron<\/a> is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body, which helps in producing energy and forming antioxidants. This makes it an important part of your diet. However, the problem with iron is that you can eat foods high in iron yet still be deficient in nonheme iron.<\/p>\n

Nonheme iron is one type of iron that isn\u2019t easily absorbed during digestion. Nonheme iron is strongly influenced by foods that can either enhance or inhibit its absorption. This is where vitamin C comes in. Vitamin C is known to enhance the absorption of nonheme iron, however, they must be consumed at the same time.<\/p>\n

When they are digested together, vitamin C combines with nonheme iron to form a compound that is easier for the body to digest. However, be wary of how much iron and vitamin C your body should have. According to doctors, you should only include 25 milligrams to supplement nonheme iron.<\/p>\n

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5. Improves Heart Health<\/h3>\n

Believe it or not, vitamin C can even reduce the threat of heart disease. According to numerous studies, vitamin C is considered as good as an exercise in improving heart health. Higher plasma levels of vitamin C have even been linked to the reduction of heart disease risk.<\/p>\n

A regular dose of vitamin C can actively combat a protein named endothelin-1. Endothelin-1, when triggered, can constrict small blood vessels. This can cause damage to the arteries<\/a>, eventually resulting in a heart attack. Besides preventing heart disease, vitamin C also keeps your arteries flexible and healthy. This helps the arteries dilate when under stress, improving both blood and oxygen flow in the body.<\/p>\n

This can aid in lowering your blood pressure. According to doctors, a vitamin C-rich diet can significantly reduce blood cholesterol, which can reduce the risk of a heart attack. Vitamin C can also lower serum cholesterol, preventing coronary heart disease.<\/p>\n

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6. Fights Oxidative Damage in Your Body<\/h3>\n

Over time, your body will experience degeneration in both function and ability. This is usually what\u2019s called oxidative stress, which affects muscle function and cellular reproduction. Oxidative stress can increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer\u2019s. However, this can be combatted with powerful antioxidants.<\/p>\n

When a body undergoes oxidative stress, tissues<\/a> can suffer from damage and cause cells to inflame. Vitamin C is known to be a naturally occurring oxidant. It targets and combats free radicals that prevent oxidative damage in important biological macromolecules. This increases antioxidant enzymes which can even combat diabetes and hypertension.<\/p>\n

Over time, consistent vitamin supplementation can improve muscle strength in aging individuals. This is, of course, combined with a healthy lifestyle \u2014 regular exercise, a healthy diet, enough sleep every evening, minimal stress, and meditation. However, be mindful of how much exercise you put in as this also known to increase oxidative stress.<\/p>\n

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7. Enhances Hair Growth<\/h3>\n

Believe it or not, a lack of vitamin C is actually one of the reasons you are suffering from all those hair problems. Vitamin C deficiency can result in an abundance of dry hair and split ends. When this happens, it could lead to irregular hair growth and, in some extreme cases, hair loss.<\/p>\n

When your body converts food into glucose<\/a> for energy production, free radicals are formed. These free radicals are responsible for hair damage, making it weak, brittle, and thin. This impacts hair growth and interrupts the process, making it more difficult for your hair to grow long and healthy. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that can combat these.<\/p>\n

Vitamin C\u2019s antioxidant properties can reduce the formation of free radicals, minimizing and alleviating their effects on the body. In general, free radicals can cause significant damage to the body itself. Having ample levels of vitamin C is, therefore, essential to combat these.<\/p>\n

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8. Prevents Soreness and Damage to Muscle Tissue<\/h3>\n

A long day out can really take a toll on your body, especially if you finally hit that goal at the gym yesterday. As fulfilling as excelling in work and workouts are, your body can accumulate strain, resulting in sore muscles. Over time, this might even cause significant damage to muscle tissue. Luckily, vitamin C can help prevent that.<\/p>\n

Vitamin C is an important antioxidant required for the growth and repair of tissues in your body. This aids in producing collagen<\/a>, which helps repair and improves your skin. However, collagen actually contributes more to your body than just the skin. Collagen is also a really powerful protein that can make scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and even blood vessels.<\/p>\n

Athletes are known to take their vitamin C supplements seriously. It helps them avoid muscle soreness and injury during rigorous training. Since vitamin C also boosts the immune system, the body also becomes tougher.<\/p>\n

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9. Lowers Hypertension<\/h3>\n

When you have hypertension<\/a>, it means that your blood pressure elevates persistently, causing you to have episodes of high blood pressure. Having hypertension can put you at a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Luckily, vitamin C has the ability to significantly lower and regulate blood pressure levels.<\/p>\n

According to doctors, vitamin C can act as a diuretic. This allows the kidney to remove more sodium and water from the body, relieving pressure from the walls of blood vessels. Vitamin C can also protect your body\u2019s supply of nitric oxide, a molecule that can relax your blood vessels. This can allow for vasodilation, which dilates the blood vessels to release pressure \u2014 therefore, decreasing your blood pressure.<\/p>\n

Diabetes can also be controlled through regular vitamin C supplement intake. According to doctors, vitamin C stimulates the insulin mechanism, aiding in treatment. This can lower blood sugar levels and prevent damage to your blood vessels.<\/p>\n

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10. Improves Eye Health<\/h3>\n

As you get older, your vision begins to blur and worsen. For people aged over 40, cataracts are the biggest cause of vision impairment. In fact, it is the principal cause of blindness across the world. However, evidence suggests that vitamin C can lower the risk of cataracts.<\/p>\n

According to doctors, vitamin C can prevent age-related macular degeneration and visual acuity loss. Vitamin C can combat oxidative stress, preventing free radicals from causing molecular damage to lens tissue in the eye. Ensuring your daily dose of vitamin C can even extend the functional lifespan of retinal cells. In fact, people with a high intake level of vitamin C have a 20% lower risk of developing cataracts.<\/p>\n

Vitamin C keeps the blood vessels in your eye healthy and functional. Over time, vitamin C can also aid in the regeneration of vitamin E<\/a> in the eye \u2014 which enhances your eye health even more.<\/p>\n

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11. Controls Asthma<\/h3>\n

You probably already get it that vitamin C is a really powerful antioxidant, but you probably didn\u2019t know that it\u2019s an effective antihistamine as well. Histamine<\/a>, prostaglandins, and cysteinyl leukotrienes are the most common organisms that can launch an asthma attack. Vitamin C is known to combat the metabolism of these organisms, rejecting the attack.<\/p>\n

According to doctors, recommending ascorbate (vitamin C) for individuals with regular asthmatic attacks is common. In fact, doctors will recommend a daily dose of vitamin C between 15, 000 to 50, 000 milligrams divided into eight doses. This is especially recommended if an asthma attack is often associated with or includes the onset of viral diseases. The trick is a bowel tolerance dose of vitamin C.<\/p>\n

This means that the dosage of vitamin C must be enough to cause but not trigger loose bowel movements. In some cases, a flush might be necessary to clean the digestive tract.<\/p>\n

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12. Combats Diabetes<\/h3>\n

Diabetes<\/a> is a disease scarred by a good amount of oxidative damage, that is\u2014 to your cells and DNA. This is because of rogue molecules called free radicals that attack your system. However, a dose of vitamin C can protect your body from further worsening your diabetes. In fact, it could even treat it.<\/p>\n

According to doctors, people who consume food rich in vitamin C have a 22% lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those who don\u2019t. On the other hand, those with an optimal level of vitamin C in their system have a 62% lower risk of diabetes. Since vitamin C is an antioxidant, it can prevent free radicals from creating further damage.<\/p>\n

Similarly, it can also stop blood vessel damage. Injecting glucose into the bloodstream does not stop the damage from occurring to the cells. However, the vitamin can restore the function of the cell and repair the damage, preventing complications.<\/p>\n

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13. Prevents Scurvy<\/h3>\n

Scurvy<\/a> is a really rare case nowadays, however, it is also the most common effect of vitamin C deficiency. In fact, vitamin C was used for the purpose of curing scurvy more than 300 years ago. On long voyages, sailors would ration lime juice to protect themselves from contracting scurvy. If you\u2019ve watched any pirate movies, you\u2019ve probably heard the word before.<\/p>\n

Some common symptoms of scurvy are swollen gums, loose teeth, bulging eyes, skin rashes that bleed, and dry hair that curls and breaks off. Other than that, having scurvy can make you feel weak and fatigued, causing soreness in your arms and legs. Without treatment, it can result in a decrease in red blood cells, which hinders your body from circulating oxygen.<\/p>\n

Scurvy also often leads to cases of anemia and skin hemorrhages. However, this can be prevented with as little as 10 grams of vitamin C per day.<\/p>\n

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14. Decreases the Risk of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)<\/h3>\n

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) commonly affect women more than men, especially during the reproductive period, pregnancy, and after menopause<\/a>. This is usually caused by bacteria that increase the urgency to urinate. However, these bacteria also induce a painful and burning sensation while urinating. Luckily, taking vitamin C can combat UTI and other similar bladder infections.<\/p>\n

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and can prevent infections from occurring in the body. Large amounts of vitamin C can limit the growth of bacteria by acidifying the urine, making it toxic [to bacteria]. In fact, doctors will recommend you natural antioxidants before ever prescribing you antibiotics. Some will even ask about your daily intake of vitamin C and other essential vitamins.<\/p>\n

This, of course, varies case-to-case. Doctors usually recommend drinking cranberry juice \u2014 which is rich in vitamin C, mannose, and probiotics \u2014 to prevent bladder infections and reinforce the body\u2019s immune system.<\/p>\n

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15. Prevents Alzheimer\u2019s<\/h3>\n

Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a> disease is caused by severe oxidative stress. Although there are numerous medications and treatment procedures available for Alzheimer\u2019s, most will only provide some form of relief for a few months up to 1 or 2 years. Even with prescription drugs meant to treat Alzheimer\u2019s, patients continue to progress.<\/p>\n

Patients who develop Alzheimer\u2019s usually experience a period of progressive decline in cognitive ability before their initial diagnoses. However, this can be prevented through consistent antioxidant intake and maintenance. Vitamin C is considered the most important contributor to keeping neural tissues healthy and functional. It can also decrease amyloid generation and acetylcholinesterase activity, and prevent endothelial dysfunction by regulating nitric oxide \u2014 a newly discovered factor in the progression of Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Studies have shown that antioxidant vitamins can reduce neuronal damage and death caused by oxidative stress. It has also been proven to prevent and delay certain forms of dementia.<\/p>\n

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\"\"16. Maintains Healthy Gums<\/h3>\n

You probably think calcium<\/a> is the only nutrient you really need to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Which is why you wouldn\u2019t expect vitamin C to have a strong connection to having healthy gums. Vitamin C is actually an essential nutrient that helps the lining of the gums stay healthy despite the number of bacteria found in the mouth.<\/p>\n

Believe it or not, your gums are the ones responsible for keeping your entire mouth healthy. Healthy gums isolate the bacteria from the roots of the teeth. When bacteria begin to penetrate the gums through lesions or weakened lining, it is within the gums that the immune system combats harmful bacteria. This is to ensure the health of the gums, the tooth-supporting ligaments, and the bone.<\/p>\n

Vitamin C is the one responsible for supporting cell growth and tissue repair. This is because of collage which makes up all connective tissue.<\/p>\n

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17. Increases Bone Density<\/h3>\n

You probably didn\u2019t know this, but vitamin C actually plays an essential role in bone development. Vitamin C is needed to produce collagen, which helps in the formation of the skin. However, collagen also makes up the fibrous protein part of both the bone and cartilage. Not only that, but vitamin C can also help speed up the recovery process in fractures and prevent osteoporosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to doctors, individuals with high vitamin C intake had the least bone density loss in the hip. Individuals who experience hip fractures are known to have low ascorbic acid levels. For women who smoke or have had hormone replacement therapy, taking vitamin C has also been proven to improve bone density.<\/p>\n

For it to be more effective, doctors recommend, at maximum, a daily dose of about 314 milligrams of vitamin C supplements and food. The recommended intake is 75 milligrams daily for women and 90 milligrams daily for men.<\/p>\n

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18. Prevents Cancer<\/h3>\n

While there is still no definite and mass-produced cure for cancer<\/a>, you can still prevent your cancer cells from growing. Luckily, vitamin C is one way to help do just that. Over the years, laboratory studies have shown that high doses of vitamin C can slow down the growth of prostate, liver, colon, and several other types of cancer cells.<\/p>\n

Since vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, it can prevent triggering cells from doing what they\u2019re not supposed to \u2014 which is primarily not to cause damage to the rest of the body. Ascorbate (vitamin C) is also known to kill cancer cells. In fact, studies have shown that vitamin C halts aggressive colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n

Other than that, high concentrations of vitamin C is also known as a good supplement for cancer treatment. It has even been known to inhibit the growth of certain tumors and\/or significantly reduce tumor volume.<\/p>\n

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19. Treats Allergies<\/h3>\n

Besides being a natural antioxidant, vitamin C is also a natural antihistamine<\/a>. This means that it can lower histamine levels in the bloodstream, preventing the onset of allergies. In fact, 2, 000 mg of vitamin C can actually cut histamine levels by 40%, improving your airway\u2019s breathing capacity.<\/p>\n

Allergies are caused when your body releases the biochemical called histamine. Vitamin C destroys the molecular structure of histamine, which decreases the amount of histamine in the blood. Most antihistamines prescribed by doctors leave you feeling drowsy for the rest of the day. When you take vitamin C, you can even boost your immune system and energy levels, all while combatting against your allergies.<\/p>\n

According to doctors, getting your dose vitamin C to fight allergies is more effective when taken from actual food. The absorption of vitamin C is dependent on the amount ingested, and you can get more of it from food.<\/p>\n

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20. Prevents Premature Greying of Hair<\/h3>\n

When you feel and look healthy, you also feel and look way younger than you actually are. While grey hair has its own kind of beauty, it is still possible to preserve and maintain your natural hair color. Since vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, it can stop free radicals from causing damage inside the body. When your body and cells experience more damage, it can accelerate the process of aging.<\/p>\n

When combined with vitamin E, it creates a powerhouse of antioxidant<\/a> properties that can help prevent the onset of grey hair. While they won\u2019t necessarily stop your body from getting grey hair eventually or getting rid of it when it does happen, it can keep your hair healthy. Vitamin C is also an essential nutrient for strengthening the connective tissue in your hair, preventing hair fall.<\/p>\n

However, other factors also come into play such as your lifestyle habits and environmental factors.<\/p>\n\r\n

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