
By: Rashi Chaudhary
How Crucial Is Vitamin C?
A balance of vitamins and minerals and other essential nutrients is required to stay healthy. One that stands above the rest is vitamin C, which is one of the most crucial and possesses a variety of qualities and benefits in abundance. So, if you’re wondering whether vitamin C is necessary, read the following and decide for yourself.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that’s not stored by the body. Most of the vitamin C is absorbed, but excess is flushed out through urine. Thus, a regular intake of vitamin C is recommended. Some of the richest sources of vitamin C include red and green bell pepper, strawberry, kiwi, grapefruit, orange, broccoli, mango, tomato, potato, sweet potato, romaine lettuce, gooseberry and many others.
Vitamin C is destroyed by excessive heat, i.e. above 70 degrees Celsius, and it is advisable to consume it from sources in their raw form as much as possible, or cook them at low temperature and consume fresh. In doing so, here’s what it can do for you:
Growth and Repair
Tissue growth and repair is very important, and vitamin C makes sure that this is done perfectly. Vitamin C is also important for the synthesis and maintenance of one of the most important proteins in the body: collagen. This structural protein exists in abundance in our bodies and makes up the skin, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, bones, blood vessels and muscles. Wounds and scar tissues are repaired with vitamin C, and our teeth, bones, and cartilage are maintained and repaired by it as well.
A Powerful Antioxidant
Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants you can find and effectively promotes the elimination of free-radicals. This delays aging and helps prevent a number of afflictions, such as cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system diseases, cataract, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, wrinkles and diabetes.
Healthy Eyes
Vitamin C helps prevent age-related issues in the eyes, such as molecular damage. Regular intake of vitamin C also reduces the risk of cataract by up to 20%. Vitamin C is a great benefit in maintaining the health of the macula, a central part of the retina responsible for central vision, as macula deterioration is a common problem amongst the aged population.
Prevents Strokes
Low levels of vitamin C in the body increase the risk of hemorrhagic strokes and brain hemorrhages, as vitamin C helps maintain blood pressure, and thus prevents strokes and brain hemorrhages. According to a study, people with higher vitamin C content in their bodies also reduce the risks of strokes by up to 42%.
Healthy Skin
Signs of aging appear very dominantly on the skin, as it’s the primary source of information for estimating someone’s age. Since vitamin C is highly efficient in damaging free-radicals and producing collagen, it helps maintain the skin’s firmness and suppleness, making it very important in getting a healthy and younger looking skin. It also improves the overall texture and helps reduce marks and spots.
Healthy Hair
Not only healthy skin, but Vitamin C is also amazing for healthy hair. Regular intake of vitamin C helps in the following ways:
- Promotes hair growth
- Prevents dandruff
- Prevents hair falling and split ends
- Saves hair’s natural color and prevents premature greying
Natural Anti-Allergic
Allergies are pretty common these days; they occur when the body creates an exaggerated immune response to certain substances and produces symptoms like itching, swelling, sneezing, and redness of the skin by releasing a biochemical called histamine. Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and decreases its amount in the blood, which brings great relief to people who are prone to different allergic reactions.
Aids in Weight Loss
A dose of vitamin C in the morning helps speed up the metabolism and aids in weight loss. Individuals with higher levels of vitamin C in their system tend to oxidize 30% more fat than those whose bodies are depleted in Vitamin C. Regular intake of Vitamin C helps keep the waist slim and body mass index (BMI) in control.
Final Thoughts
An extra dose of vitamin C is worth taking to stay young and lean, flaunt healthy skin and shiny hair, minimize the effects of allergies, maintain a healthy blood flow and so much more. Despite looking for artificial supplements, go for natural fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C. Consume them either in their raw form or through fresh and tasty cold-pressed juice.