Doctors reveal 4 surprising Vitamin C benefits, and what excess could do to you

A serum might have convinced some that vitamin C is just good for removing those blemishes and restoring that glow, or at max, help you get through that cold with boosted immunity. But hold that thought, as research has now come up suggesting that it might not be all those oranges are good for.

According to the National Institute of Health, Vitamin C is vital in fending off a barrage of cancer and heart diseases causing symptoms with its potent abilities as an antioxidant.

Vitamin C deficiency risks

Expert Jessica Levinson, a culinary nutrition specialist, says that though effective, an important pre- cursor is the absorption of Vitamin C by the body, which is a little tricky. “ It is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it isn’t stored well in the body,” Levison said according to Yahoo Health, adding that its consumption thus needs to be high every day.


Not getting it enough could have some serious ramifications, says Jessice Zinn, another nutritional expert and a registered dietician, saying that Scurvy—an anemia related condition which leads to bleeding of gums, hampering in wound healing---which is becoming more widespread in the United States, Yahoo Health claimed.

There are also National Institute of Health set levels of required Vitamin C dosage. 75 milligrams of vitamin C per day for women and 90 milligrams of it for men. Also, as per a report by Yahoo Health, pregnant women would need a higher dosage vis-à-vis others.

Health Benefits of Vitamin C

Apart from avoiding Scurvy, the other benefits of Vitamin C are as follows.

1. Robust Immunity: NIH report says, according to Yahoo, that Vitamin C boosts Collagen production—leading to wound healing—and helps ward off infections. Collagen is known to ramp up strength of skin, muscles, bones, and tissues. A lack of it could lead to sore muscles, stiff joints, and saggy skin, as per Cleveland Clinic quoted by Yahoo.

2. Ripped muscles: Not as necessary as your protein shake, but Vitamin C can help you stay jacked as it has an ability to absorb nonheme iron—a plant- based iron different from the ones found in animals—says Jackie Newgent, a plant- forward culinary nutritionist. Iron can help boost metabolism, muscles, brain, and more,and vitamin C could be the answer for vegans.

3. Ramp up your years: An antioxidant, according to NIH, Vitamin C can counter the unstable atoms or molecules inside the body that may cause stress or cell damage—often caused by toxins, pollution and smoke which lead to cancer, heart disease, and inflammatory diseases like arthritis, Yahoo reported.

The answer to all your Vitamin C needs lies in the naturally occurring foods, with oranges, grapefruit, kiwis, strawberries, cantaloupe, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, bell peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, tomatoes and legumes all rich in it. And if these are too adulterated for your taste, according to NIH, doctor recommended supplements are not a bad option, Yahoo reported.

This article is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor or healthcare professional, as this is not a substitute for professional medical help.

FAQs

Q1. What are the main benefits of Vitamin C?
Vitamin C helps boost immunity, supports muscle growth, builds collagen for skin and joints, and protects cells from damage.

Q2. What happens if you don’t get enough Vitamin C?
A lack of Vitamin C can cause scurvy, which leads to anemia, bleeding gums, slow healing, and bruising.