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Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant found in many of our foods, especially citrus fruits and vegetables. It plays a significant role in overall health and well-being. Below, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits vitamin C has to offer and why it’s such an essential nutrient for the human body. This blog looks at the following:

What Are The Benefits Of Taking Vitamin C?

Collagen Formation

Collagen is a protein made up of amino acids in the skin, muscles, bone, and connective tissue and plays a pivotal role in supporting and maintaining strength in these structures. Vitamin C regulates the formation of natural collagen production, aiding the body’s wound-healing processes and promoting cell growth.

Iron Absorption

Iron is an essential mineral that the body needs for growth and development. When you lack iron, you may experience symptoms like lack of energy, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. Alongside daily iron intake, vitamin C can increase how well iron is absorbed into the body. Aside from animal tissue, vitamin C is the only dietary component proven to promote iron absorption.

Immune System Function

Vitamin C is critical when experiencing high stress levels or an infection. During these events, your body’s vitamin C concentration rapidly declines. Supplementation can significantly improve the immune system by increasing cellular functions and protecting against oxidative stress. Likewise, studies have shown that having a severe deficiency in vitamin C increases the risk of certain health conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and age-related macular degeneration.

Does Vitamin C Give You Energy?

Vitamin C supports the energy-yielding metabolism that converts our food into energy. By being an essential contributor to the metabolism, vitamin C reduces tiredness and protects the body against infections that can make you feel weak. Similarly, low vitamin C levels are tied to feelings of fatigue.

Is It Good To Have Vitamin C Everyday?

You should be getting a proper amount of vitamin C on a daily basis, but you don’t want to overdo it through supplementation. As a standard recommendation, women should get 75 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C daily, and men should get 90 mg. This can vary depending on other factors, such as pregnancy, which ups this daily intake to 120mg. You never want to over-supplement vitamin C. Amounts greater than 2,000 mg daily can result in stomach aches and diarrhea.

Who Needs Vitamin C The Most?

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be taking high doses of vitamin C to reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia and support the baby’s development. Likewise, vitamin C is a major antioxidant component of breast milk production.

Those who smoke may also require greater supplementations of vitamin C to combat the depletion of vitamin levels caused by tobacco’s production of oxidative stress.

Signs of Vitamin C Deficiency

Vitamin C deficiency, also called scorbutus or scurvy, can manifest itself in several ways, including:

  • Bruising
  • Bleeding or swollen gums
  • Muscle weakness and pain
  • Fatigue
  • Rash
  • Tooth loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Weight loss
  • Coiled hair
  • Irritability

Is Vitamin C Better Than Retinol?

Vitamin C and retinol as topical supplements have both been used in the treatment of dull or dry skin. That said, it’s recommended that you try vitamin C first to address skin problems. Vitamin C has other properties not present in retinol, including protection against UV rays. Likewise, using the two together can cause skin irritation. It’s best to use vitamin C alone, to begin with, and then move to retinol if you’re not seeing the results you desire.

Best Vitamin C Supplements

While many people get their fill of vitamin C through a healthy diet, there are instances where supplementation is needed. At A Nice Apothecary, we vouch for two particular brands of vitamin C: Codeage’s Liposomal Vitamin C+ and Dr. Mercola Premium’s Liposomal Vitamin C.

Codeage’s Liposomal Vitamin C+ – Take three capsules once daily with or without food for immune system support.

Dr. Mercola Premium’s Liposomal Vitamin C – Take one capsule once per day for two months (a minimum of 6 weeks) for immune system support.

A Nice Apothecary Supplies Only the Best and Health and Wellness

Our local pharmacy here in the Valley is your one-stop shop for essential vitamins and minerals. A Nice Apothecary is family-owned and offers a wide range of services, including medication synchronization and compounding, to make sure you get the healthcare you need long-term. Learn more today by reaching out to us through our online form. We look forward to hearing from you.