Good day!  Last week we talked about B vitamins and showcased some of their magical properties.  This week we will take a look at vitamin C benefits, the better known vitamin that most people take when they get sick.  But why does it help the body when it is down and out? We’ll look at the benefits of vitamin C, what foods contain it, different forms of it, and what other nutrients that couple well with it to boost benefits!

About Vitamin C

Like we said above, most people think of vitamin C to use when you get sick or to help lessen the duration of a sickness.  This is only one of many benefits that it can do for the body.  In fact, vitamin C is a great for every day use because it can be beneficial for the WHOLE body do to it’s high antioxidant properties.  When free radicals come in contact with antioxidants the antioxidant will give up an electron and neutralize the free radical, preventing it from harming healthy cells.  In fact, our body produces free radicals in response to many different contaminants that we face every day!  Also, our immune system will release free radicals to destroy various bacteria and viruses in an oxidative burst!  This is why Vitamin C helps out when you are sick– it will help reduce the free radicals that are being produced from an overactive immune system. Here are a handful of benefits that make this vitamin so essential for the human body:

Benefits of Vitamin C

• Increases oxytocin release (the feel good hormone that is released by the pituitary gland in the brain)
• Helps boost your mood
• Beneficial for reducing anxiety and depression
• Prevents neuron damage
• Reduces fatigue
• Helps slow brain degenerative dis-eases
• Improves cognitive function
• Increases thyroid activity
• Helps combat cancer and eases cancer treatment
• Prevents lungs from oxidative stress
• Decreases the duration and severity of respiratory infections
• Reduces inflammation
• Increases physical performance and helps with recovery
• Facilitates with collagen production (great for hair, skin, and nails!)
• Increases frequency of desire for sex (we had to include this fun fact!)
• Inhibits production of cortisol (the stress hormone)
• Neutralizes chlorine (mix powdered Vitamin C with water and spray it on after you swim to avoid the harmful effects of chlorine on the skin)
• And of course– boosts the immune system, helping it work more efficiently!

Foods with Vitamin C

You can always get your daily dose of vitamin C by nibbling on the following foods:

• Kiwis
• Oranges
• Red peppers
• Lemons
• Strawberries
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels Sprouts

Supplement Types of Vitamin C

If you are needing an extra boost of Vitamin C to increase your quality of health and/or collagen production, you will find many different options.  There are different forms of Vitamin C as well as different strengths.  Here are some options with explanations!

• Ester-C 500mg–  This is a “buffered” form of Vitamin C, where they add Calcium Ascorbate, making it gentle on the stomach and less acidic than other types of Vitamin C.
• Pure Essence Whole C–  This is a whole food form of Vitamin C, making it more absorb-able and readily available for the body to receive!
• Liposomal Vitamin C– This is a fat-soluble form of Vitamin C, meaning it will store longer in the system and be more absorb-able than the typical water-soluble Vitamin C.  It can also cross the blood brain barrier, which can help provide the brain with more antioxidants.  Also great for all things skin and gut related!
• Power Pak with Vitamin C–  These are convenient and great for on the go!  Mix with water and drink to receive 1200mg of Vitamin C.  Great to take before you get on a plane, to take during cold/flu season, or to take when you’re in environments that have a high risk of bacteria and/or viruses!
• Liquid Vitamin C–  This can be an easy way of taking a quick dose of Vitamin C!
• Vitamin C Serum– This is a topical serum with Vitamin C that can help with collagen production, which can help lessen wrinkles, brighten skin, and help reduce appearance of dark spots from sun or aging.
• Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids– Taking bioflavonoids with Vitamin C can help increase the absorbancy of the Vitamin C!

Coupling with Vitamin C

Did you know that Vitamin C increases the absorption of plant-based iron in the body?  If you know you need more iron, you can pair Vitamin C with an Iron to help increase uptake and retention of it or just make sure you are eating a food with Vitamin C along with another food containing iron (spinach + red pepper)!  Vitamin E is also fantastic with C because they are both high in antioxidants, are both great for skin health, and work together as a team!

We hope you learned a little bit about how important the role of Vitamin C plays in your WHOLE body!  Feeling a lil down?  Try adding some Vitamin C to your daily regimen!

As always, do what you feel is best for YOUR body– if you aren’t sure, ask your doctor.  We are health ENTHUSIASTS not licensed practitioners.