You might think of vitamin C when you have a cold or are trying to prevent getting a cold, but vitamin C has many other benefits you may not realize. Making vitamin C a regular part of your routine could benefit your health in many ways.
Vitamin C is a superstar vitamin, helping your body operate at its best to guard against illness and also working alongside medication or traditional treatment to help you feel better.
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Like any supplements, always consult your doctor before making any routine changes, and whenever possible, get vitamin C the natural way. Here are some of the ways that people have used vitamin C.
Vitamin C and Blood Pressure
If you’re looking for a way to naturally lower your blood pressure, consider adding vitamin C to your blood pressure regimen. While long-term studies must still be completed, preliminary studies show that doses of 500 mg for eight weeks may lower blood pressure.
While you shouldn’t use it in place of seeing a doctor and definitely do not replace your blood pressure medication with a vitamin, it could complement your protocol to keep your blood pressure lower.
Important note: vitamin C interacts with some blood pressure medications, so make a detailed plan with your doctor before starting any new supplement.
Of course, the best way to lower your blood pressure is to exercise and improve your diet. Add 30 minutes of exercise to your daily routine and limit sugary, salty, and processed foods.
Vitamin C and Iron Absorption
Iron is a crucial nutrient for your body. It helps form proteins and red blood cells and plays a role in converting sugar and starches to energy. You may suffer from extreme and unexplained fatigue if your body lacks iron. You may also feel short of breath.
Iron deficiency is one of the most common in the US, even though it’s found in red meat, beans, and dark green vegetables. Iron obtained from non-meat sources is often poorly absorbed, but Vitamin C can help your body get more iron from plant sources. The best vitamin C foods to eat alongside iron foods include citrus fruits, peppers, and tomatoes.
Of course, supplements are available to you as well.
Potential Help with Memory Issues
A study out of Australia found that vitamin C deficiency was associated with cognitive impairment. Ensuring adequate vitamin C intake through food and supplementation is an easy addition to your practices for keeping your mind performing at its best.
More research is needed, especially studies on using vitamin C for memory-related issues. But regular consumption in mid to early senior years could be what you need to feel as sharp as you can for as long as you can.
Vitamin C and Your Liver
In some studies, vitamin C intake has been associated with lower incidence of fatty liver in some populations. In addition, vitamin C’s antioxidant activity may help reduce the incidence of free radical damage to the liver, one of the body’s most important organs.
Use Vitamin C with Caution
Although vitamin C is water soluble, which means your body eliminates any excess in your urine, you should still take it cautiously. And, more isn’t necessarily better. Too much vitamin C can cause digestive discomfort or even diarrhea.
As mentioned earlier, whole foods are the best way to get nutrients. However, if you’re still deficient, consider taking a supplement, but discuss it with your doctor first.
Final Thoughts
Giving your body plenty of nutrients is important, but focusing on vitamin C can have pretty profound effects over the long term. Even if you aren’t worried about any of the issues mentioned above, vitamin C can help your body’s immune system, keeping you healthy overall and better able to fight any other issues you experience.
Try adding as many nutrient-rich foods to your diet as possible, but if you find it’s not possible to get enough vitamin C in your diet, talk to your doctor about a supplement to increase your levels and get the full benefit of this super vitamin.
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