Vitamin C is one of the most widely used supplements in the world. So many people look to it when they start to feel under the weather, since aiding in getting over illness is what it is best known for. While this is one of the main reasons people start taking Vitamin C, it is not the only benefit this supplement can provide. There are also different types of Vitamin C, and not all are equal. We'll provide a brief breakdown on the types of Vitamin C supplements as well.
A few of the main benefits include :
- Boosts Immune Function
- Increases Absorption of Iron
- Wound Healing
Immune Function
As we mentioned before, this is probably the main reason many people take Vitamin C. This vitamin is involved in many facets of immune system function including; the creation of White Blood Cells which help fight infections, as an antioxidant protecting those WBC's from oxidative damage, and also helping strengthen the skin's defenses.
Increased Iron
Iron is critical for Red Blood Cell production, which are critical for oxygen distribution in the body. Studies have shown Vitamin C is able to increase the breakdown of Iron, resulting in higher absorption amounts and higher blood iron levels.
Wound Healing
Similar to how it helps with iron absorption, Vitamin C can increase the uptake of collagen proteins. Collagen protein is the most prevalent protein in the body, and is critical in the recovery of joint tissue, tendons, ligaments, skin, hair, and nails. We have a more in depth breakdown on collagen here.
By helping increase the body's ability to utilize collagen, supplementing Vitamin C can be helpful in accelerating the healing process after an injury, or from surgery.
Can't I just eat an orange?
Sure, whole food is one of the best ways to get proper nutrients into your diet. The difficult part becomes getting ENOUGH of each vitamin through food alone.
For wound healing, it has been recommended to take around 2000 milligrams of Vitamin C per day. The average orange contains approximately 50 milligrams. So you would need to eat around 40 oranges, to get that recommended amount. This is where supplementation comes in, each of the types of C below are much easier ways to incorporate it into your day.
Types of Vitamin C Supplements
The most common Vitamin C supplement is in the form of Ascorbic Acid. Generally inexpensive, Ascorbic Acid provides a high amount of Vitamin C, but is also harder to digest for some people due to it's acidity.
