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3 Health Benefits of Vitamin C

Woman in athletic clothing juicing oranges

Have you heard about the health benefits of vitamin C? Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, has long been believed to support immune health. Is this belief true, and if so, what other benefits can vitamin C offer? Read this article from Emergen-C to find out more about vitamin C benefits.

 

Before we talk about the health benefits of vitamin C, it’s important to understand the sources of vitamin C. Fruits and veggies like broccoli, strawberries, and guava have vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the many nutrients found in a nutritious, well-balanced diet. Find out how vitamin C plays a crucial role in skin health, immune function, and more.

 

Would you like to learn about vitamin C benefits? Explore the info below!

Please read the product label and consult your doctor or preferred medical professional for further guidance.

 

1. Vitamin C and Skin Health

 

To help maintain skin health, make sure you consume enough vitamin C in your diet. As an antioxidant, vitamin C plays an important role in skin health. Antioxidants help fight free radicals to help maintain healthy skin at a cellular level. Vitamin C also helps your body create collagen.1 Collagen is a protein your body produces, which helps give your skin its firmness and elasticity. To incorporate vitamin C-rich foods into your diet, try foods like broccoli, strawberries, kale, kiwis, orange juice, and red peppers. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 90 mg/day for men and 75 mg/day for women.2

2. Vitamin C for Immune Support

Many people know that vitamin C plays a role in immune health. In fact, studies show that vitamin C helps support the cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system.3 Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps keep your immune system up and running. Supporting a healthy immune system requires a variety of vitamins and nutrients—an essential one is vitamin C. Luckily, vitamin C is in a lot of common foods. To help ensure you get the daily recommended amount of vitamin C, continue to incorporate recipes with vitamin C-rich foods into the daily menu, and if you like, take Emergen-C as a complement to your healthy diet.

3. Vitamin C and Iron Absorption

Did you know there was a link between Vitamin C and iron absorption? Iron is a mineral found in meat, seafood, and spinach and is essential for growth and development. It’s an important component of hundreds of proteins and enzymes that support essential biological functions, such as oxygen transport, energy production, and DNA synthesis.4 Vitamin C increases the intestinal absorption of iron from non heme iron food sources.5 So, if you want to get more of the iron from the foods you eat, consider adding a vitamin C-rich food to your meal, like orange juice with your iron-fortified cereal, or serve a leafy green salad with your dinner entree.

 

Vitamin C is a fascinating vitamin that does so much for our bodies. Learn more by reading our Five Things You May Have Not Known About Vitamin C article for more fun facts. You can also get on- the-go immune support* with Emergen-C Crystals! With high-potency Vitamin C as well as other antioxidants, you can support your immune health*, anytime, anywhere!

 

Make supporting your immune health* part of your daily routine with Emergen-C products!

 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

Source citations:

 

  1. Ascorbic Acid Specifically Increases Type I and Type III Procollagen Messenger RNA Levels in Human Skin Fibroblast. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3351329/. Accessed 6/8/2020.
  2. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D.
    NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56068/table/summarytables.t2/?report=objectonly. Accessed 5/17/2020.
  3. Vitamin C and Immune Function. NCBI. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29099763/. Accessed 5/8/2020.
  4. Iron. Linus Paul Institute; Oregon State University. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/iron. Accessed 5/8/2020.
  5. Vitamin C. Linus Pauling Institute. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-C#role-in-immunity. Accessed 6/8/2020.

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