Vitamin C and its Importance to our Body
Vitamin C or Ascorbic acid is probably the most popular vitamin in the world. This is taken to boost the immune system and resistance against diseases. It also has natural antihistamines or anti-allergy properties. It can be taken once daily, but some doctors advice additional dose when a person is infected by virus. A wide variety of fruits and vegetables has natural vitamin C, but for an accurate intake, consumers rely on commercially produced vitamin C products that come in various forms. They can be in the form of a tablet, capsule, powder or syrup. Aside from these, vitamin C supplements also vary according to formulation, as the market for dietary supplements has expanded rapidly. Vitamin C may not be the cure for diseases but it helps prevent complications. The benefits of Vitamin C are not just limited to keeping us away from the common cold.
Recommended Intake
The recommended intake of vitamin C depends on the age of an individual, but experts agree on taking at least 500 milligrams a day for adults. There are many fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, but taking supplements is the common practice. Doctors say that there is no major downside to taking that much vitamin C a day, but it is recommended to take non-acidic types if stomach irritation is experienced. It is also important to add vitamin C-rich food in the diet. Vegetables rich in vitamin C are broccoli, red bell pepper, and red cabbage; while vitamin C-rich fruits are oranges, kiwi, and cantaloupe. Kids are advised to take vitamin C even before they turn one, since they are more prone to diseases acquired from viruses because they have weaker immune system.
Benefits
Vitamin C does not just protect us from the common cold. Based on the latest findings by an American researcher, it does benefit us in the following areas:
- Stress. Stress weakens immune system, and people who are stressed tend to find an outlet on many forms of vices that deplete vitamin C in our body. Regular vitamin C helps in the overall health of a person especially if he lives a stressful life.
- Stroke. Though not all doctors have already agreed on this, one researcher asserted that high concentrations of vitamin C in the blood were able to help lower risk for stroke by 42% compared to those with lower concentrations.
- Skin Aging. Vitamin C has positive effects on our cells, from the inside and out. There are studies to support this claim, and they report that higher amount of vitamin C can prevent the likelihood of wrinkles and dryness appearance.
Vitamin C is one of the safest and most beneficial of all vitamins. It is already available in various forms, including sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate and even the new one called lypospheric vitamin C in which tiny spheres of phospholipids or liposomes are encapsulated. It is sometimes called liposomal vitamin C. This is a new way to take vitamin C and it features many advantages since some forms of vitamin C are said to have side effects. Altrient C is one fine example of this new vitamin C form.
