While many of you load up on vitamin C when you are down with the flu, this wonder nutrient has a lot more to it beyond its cold-fighting reputation. Vitamin C, also known as its common supplemental form ascorbic acid, is key in building a nutritional foundation that could help in keeping your youthful glow. Here are some benefits of vitamin C that you may not have heard of:
Antioxidant effects
Oxidation is a normal process that happens in your body as part of being a living, breathing human. Unfortunately, the free radicals caused by this process damage the tissues in your body over time and are linked to many age-related breakdowns such as wrinkles in your skin and serious diseases.
Vitamin C is known to be a powerful antioxidant that helps fight the formation of free radicals, which prevents the wear and tear these agers inflict on your poor tissues. It also works with another powerful antioxidant, vitamin E, by restoring its antioxidant function.
Fights inflammation
Inflammation is usually a good reaction for your body to have. When you have an injury or an infection, inflammation lets your body’s immune system know that it has work to do to help you heal. But certain things, such as free radicals, can trigger inflammation even when there is nothing for your body to fight. This chronic kind of inflammation becomes more common as we age and has been linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
Vitamin C helps reduce inflammation by protecting against free radicals and lowering the signs of inflammation in your body.
Boosts collagen production
Collagen is a protein that makes up the foundation of your skin – it’s what gives it strength and elasticity, and it also helps restore dead skin cells. You produce less collagen as you age and this is why your skin starts to sag and wrinkle in later years. Ascorbic acid is essential in the formation of collagen, and maintaining a healthy amount of vitamin C in your diet can help prevent the loss of collagen as you age. Vitamin A is also known to be a collagen booster.
Repairs sun damage
While many of you now know that it’s important to wear sunscreen every day, not all of you follow that rule religiously. Unfortunately, sun damage is deeper than just a sunburn. Too much sun is a major source of oxidative stress from free radical formation, and dark spots and prematurely deep wrinkles are some signs of sun-damaged skin.
It’s been shown that aged and photodamaged skin is low on vitamin C, so replenishing it can be beneficial. Topical vitamin C in face creams and serums can help brighten your skin and fade sun spots, while more vitamin C in your diet can help clean up those free radicals.
While vitamin C has all sorts of benefits, it’s important to take the right amount. Some people think megadosing this nutrient is healthy, but for adults, 2,000mg per day is the upper limit. More than that can cause side effects like diarrhea, fatigue, and headaches.
Multivitamins + Minerals (Conzace) has a dosage of 500mg, as well as healthy amounts of other antioxidant and immune boosting stars: vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc.
If symptoms persist consult your doctor.
Source Links:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/oxidative-stress#prevention
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S8755966886800217
- https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/23/inflammation_n_4149387.html
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262881.php
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/whats-the-right-amount-of-vitamin-c-for-me
ASC Ref Code: U125P080520CS
