Our body needs to absorb many vitamins to stay healthy. Vitamin C is one of the most vital vitamins. It can be found in many fruits and vegetables – with oranges and lemons containing some of the highest levels.
Not consuming enough vitamin C can lead to the development of a disease called scurvy, which famously killed many sailors in the 1600s and 1700s. It was the British navy that realised that supplying sailors with lemons helped prevent scurvy.
While many of us consume enough vitamin C nowadays to ward off scurvy, many of us still don’t get enough in our diets to truly help our bodies thrive. Vitamin C may have many incredible benefits if consumed in the right levels. Below are some examples of the benefits of getting more vitamin C.
Improved immunity
Vitamin C helps white blood cells function more effectively, helping them to fight off bacteria and viruses more efficiently. Many people consume vitamin tablets in the winter to help ward off colds and flus. A healthy fix of vitamins could also reduce other infections like tooth infections, skin infections and stomach bugs.
Healthier skin
Vitamin C can also help to keep our skin healthy by fighting off toxins, reducing inflammation and rebuilding skin cells. A diet high in vitamin C has been found to stave off skin blemishes like age spots, hyperpigmentation and wrinkles. You can also apply this vitamin directly to the skin via vitamin C serums.
Healthier hair
If you want to maintain a healthy head of hair, consuming plenty of vitamin C is also necessary. This vitamin reduces hair loss and promotes growth. While a vitamin-C-rich diet can help to keep your hair healthy, you can also promote hair growth with the use of vitamin C in other ways such as applying vitamin-C-based shampoos and conditioners.
Wound healing
The rebuilding of cells is largely the work of vitamin C. Consuming plenty of fruit and vegetables can therefore help scars to heal more quickly. When recovering from surgery, getting plenty of vitamin C could help you to encourage a more speedy recovery. Vitamin C can also help with muscle repair after exercise and recovery from sports injuries.
Cancer treatment
While there’s no solid evidence to suggest that vitamin C can help cure cancer, studies have shown that vitamin C may help kill off cancer cells and may help reduce the side effects of many other cancer treatments. Vitamin C IV therapy for cancer patients can help get this vitamin straight into the bloodstream and could be worth trying if you are currently battling this disease.
Arthritis relief
If you have arthritis, regularly consuming vitamin C may help to reduce inflammation in your joints and could even help with the rebuilding of cartilage. Vitamin tablets are sometimes recommended to people with joint pain, although eating fruit and vegetables may be just as effective.
Stronger bones
Finally, vitamin C is essential to bone health. Greater dietary vitamin C intake has been associated with a 33% reduced risk of developing osteoporosis. It may also help to reduce your risk of developing fractures by keeping bones denser and stronger.