If you’ve ever wondered why people take vitamin C when they get colds or why sailors used to take oranges with them to sea, you may be interested to learn more about the benefits of this interesting and important vitamin. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that your body cannot produce on its own, meaning you have to consume enough regularly through your diet. In today’s busy world, however, getting enough fruits and vegetables every day isn’t always realistic. If this is the cae, you may be wondering whether finding the best vitamin C supplement to help keep your levels healthy is right for you. The good news is, there are several important benefits to taking vitamin C that can make the effort of supplementing more than worth it over time.
1. It Helps Prevent Iron Deficiencies
One little known fact about vitamin C is that it’s actually been shown to help iron convert into a more easily absorbable form, helping to boost absorption and prevent deficiencies. Iron deficiency can cause fatigue and lead to more serious conditions like anemia, so making sure you have a good absorption rate is key. Without adequate iron, your body won’t be able to transport oxygen efficiently or produce enough red blood cells. Thankfully, getting enough vitamin C can help your iron levels stay ideal.
2. It Could Help Stave Off Heart Disease
Heart disease regularly tops lists of leading causes of death throughout the world, so preventing it from happening in the first place is crucial. Factors like high cholesterol or high blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease. The good news is, vitamin C has been shown to help lower heart disease risk when taken regularly. This may be due to its potential ability to reduce LDL, or “bad”, cholesterol and blood triglycerides, helping to stave off disease. However, you’ll likely see the best results if you combine a vitamin C supplement with a healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of exercise and fresh foods.
3. It Helps Fight Free Radicals
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it has an important role to play in staving off free radicals. Free radicals are often harmful compounds that form when your body is exposed to radiation, tobacco smoke or is simply in the process of digesting food. The accumulation of free radicals has been pinpointed as a cause of the aging process and has even been linked to the development of chronic conditions like arthritis over time. Thankfully, getting adequate vitamin C helps boost your antioxidant levels and ups your body’s natural defenses against inflammation.
4. It Helps Your Immune System
Finally, if you’re looking for a simple way to help boost your immune system, look no further than vitamin C. The vitamin has been shown to encourage the formation of white blood cells, which play a key role in fighting off infections. Additionally, it can help strengthen skin barriers, which improves wound healing time and shortens scar formation time. When you ensure you get enough vitamin C, you give your immune system the best possible chance at fighting off infections, disease and other harmful factors that can hurt your health and your overall quality of life.
Whether you’re not a big fan of fruits and vegetables or simply have a hectic schedule, vitamin C supplements can help you stay healthy and get the nutrients your body needs. Vitamin C is essential to keeping your body in top health as you get older, so taking the time to ensure you’re consuming enough on a regular basis is more than worth the effort. Keep these key facts in mind and you can look forward to a healthier future.
