If you’ve ever studied nutrition in the slightest, or you even just have a passing concern about your health, it would be quite hard for you to not have heard of Vitamin C. A cornerstone of proper nutrition in the body, most people know that it is an immune system booster, but not much else about this miraculous vitamin. In this article we are going to teach you the 5 best benefits of vitamin C
Peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that Vitamin C not only plays a large role in energizing the immune system, but even energizes the mind– in order to make some of the beneficial effects that come from proper Vitamin C supplementation more commonly-known, we’ve highlighted five important health benefits that we feel are extremely important, and some of the larger reasons for our body’s need for it.
1. Vitamin C for Wrinkles?
For tens of thousands of people around the world, there is nothing they would like more than clear, healthy, smooth skin. Good moisturizing and a proper skincare routine can go a long way, but it can only get you so far without your body having what it needs for its proper functions. You wouldn’t dream of driving a car that had never had an oil change– the human body is no less a machine. But instead of gasoline and oil, it requires the vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients that we consume in our daily diets. And it has been found that, indeed, Vitamin C goes a long way in reducing wrinkles. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women between the ages of 40-74 who regularly took vitamin C supplements had fewer wrinkles than those who did not regularly take it.
This is because Vitamin C is crucial to repairing tissues in the human body. It is a natural antioxidant that also assists in collagen production within the body– in addition to this (as if it wasn’t enough), it protects the skin against free radicals. When you get hurt, and you suffer from an open wound, it is Vitamin C that helps the body patch up the skin, and maintains healthy cartilage, bones, and teeth.
2. Feeling Lethargic? Maybe Vitamin C is the Answer
Energy is something that for many people fluctuates throughout the day, and it is these changes in energy that can often lead to mood swings, fatigue, or outright sluggishness. Usually, the first thing we go looking for might not be what we really need. Look at yourself– when you’re tired, more often than not, you go looking for something that is high in caffeine and/or sugar– but in reality, what we need might be as simple as an orange! Vitamin C has been found to be important in maintaining energy levels throughout the day.
A vitamin C deficiency has been linked to symptoms of fatigue and weakness, and this might be a large reason that you (especially if fruit is something more commonly found in your favorite artificial flavors) are feeling lethargic at the dreaded halfway point of the day. Instead of reaching for the coffee, next time try a vitamin C infusion. It could give you the boost you need to get your energy levels back to normal throughout the day.
3. Natural Immune System Booster
As stated previously, most people know of vitamin C for its extremely important role in maintaining the health of the immune system. It’s hard to talk about the effects of Vitamin C, really, without mentioning this, however, there is something very important that needs to be said. Vitamin C is just that, a vitamin. It is not a cure for a fever, or the common cold. However, we’ve often been told upon falling ill to drink a glass of orange juice.
Well, studies have found, quite decidedly, that taking Vitamin C can, while not curing it by any stretch of the imagination, reduce both the duration and the severity of cold symptoms. This is in those who take at least 200 mg a day. Vitamin C helps the body in the production of white blood cells, which are the body’s line of defense against foreign bacteria and viruses, including the common cold. Vitamin C is a helpful boost to the body’s immune system. An easy way to ensure that you’re getting this requirement of the vitamin is a nutrient IV session, which is a simple, enjoyable way to keep yourself hydrated, energized, and to keep your cells functioning well.
4. Vitamin C for Weight Loss
Don’t let anybody fool you– eating right is at the center of weight loss. More than that, being at a caloric deficit (expending more calories than you consume in a day), is the most mathematically sound approach to losing weight. However, that is not to say that the right kinds of nutrients don’t make an extremely large difference– in fact, they expand on that point. A large part of eating right is getting all of the vitamins and minerals that are needed for the body to function smoothly and efficiently, and they can also be useful in getting rid of stubborn fat deposits.
Vitamin C plays a key role in the metabolization of fat molecules. Specifically, it has been found to be an effective way to target belly fat. If you are deficient in Vitamin C, you may even find it difficult to achieve the healthy weight that you are working towards. Of course, once again, combining a balanced, nutrient-rich diet with vigorous exercise. Just make sure to include some extra vitamin C (and for that matter, the rest of the recommended micronutrients), when coming up with your weight loss plan.
5. Vitamin C as a Stress Reducer
Stress is largely a distinctly human issue. For the vast majority of the animal kingdom, stress is most often simply the absence of food, water, or shelter, or a mate. And, although these mechanisms each play a large role in what makes humans stressed, they do not comprise all of it. There are several factors that come into play when we are talking about stress levels, including diet, exercise, work, and mental health. However, it has been found that low levels of Vitamin C can exacerbate how the body responds to stress.
Studies have found that people who regularly take vitamin C have lower levels of cortisol (the hormone that has been linked to stress in humans), and lower blood pressure when they are put into stressful situations. Because of this,many researchers believe that one of the keys to stress management is vitamin C. The next time you are stressed over a big presentation or meeting, you might want to try a Vitamin C drip to steady your nerves.
In summary, Vitamin C has been found to be an energizer that kickstarts the body. As it does this, it makes sure that the immune system, skin, mind, and organs are all functioning at their best and ensuring that you are in a state of homeostasis. Oftentimes, however, simply taking a pill or eating an orange with breakfast now and again isn’t enough to get the benefits that you are looking for. If you want a way to make sure you are getting enough vitamin C in your daily routine, check out our vitamin IV infusions.