Why Vitamin C?
Our bodies do not produce vitamin C and neither do we store it, so it is important that we consume vitamin C in our diet, throughout the day. The benefits of vitamin C may include protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease and collagen support.
To get the most nutrition and Vitamin C from your food, there are a few tips: eat whole foods that are lightly cooked or raw, make an effort to eat food soon after cutting it up, and steam instead of boiling. Eating organic, where possible, raw, fresh foods is the best possible source of nutrition.
Some benefits of Vitamin C
1. It has long been agreed that vitamin C strengthens the immune system and plays a large role in the body’s ability to fight off viruses. There is also good evidence that taking vitamin C regularly can reduce the risk of developing complications, like pneumonia and lung infections.
2. A recent study showed that vitamin C is beneficial to people whose immune system has been weakened due to stress. Considering that stress has become a common condition in our society, a good vitamin C regime can serve as an great tool for overall health.
3. Consuming vitamin C can improve your physical performance and muscle strength; this is especially true in the elderly. Vitamin C can improve your oxygen intake during exercises and studies have shown that it can reduce blood pressure. Another study found that doses of 1,000 to 2,000 mg per day may reduce the production of histamines, which contributes to inflammation in asthmatic people, therefore helping to improve asthma symptoms.
4. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people with the highest concentrations of vitamin C in their blood had a 42% lower stroke risk than those with the lowest concentrations. People who eat fresh wholefoods have higher blood levels of vitamin C.
5. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can protect against damage caused by harmful free radicals, as well as toxic chemicals and pollutants like cigarette smoke and radiation. Free radicals can build up in the body and contribute to the development of many negative health conditions.
Vitamin C intake is also beneficial in lowering the risk of gout, improving mineral absorption and reducing inflammation in the body.
Again, as with magnesium, there are crossover benefits with hydrolysed fish collagen ... can your immune system ever be too strong? And remember, in order for collagen to do it's work efficiently, vitamin C must be present.
