05 Oct Why You Need Vitamin C

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a nutrient that we often associate with supporting our immunity, but it actually does a lot more than that. Let’s talk about the many ways that vitamin C benefits us and how and when we should eat or take our vitamin C.

What makes vitamin C an essential nutrient?

First, as with many vitamins, the body can’t produce its own vitamin C. Secondly, the body can’t store a significant amount of vitamin C. Though very little is stored, the highest concentrations are in the white blood cells, eyes, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, and brain. Any vitamin C that isn’t quickly used by our body gets excreted in our urine since it is a water-soluble vitamin. Remember these two factors for later.

How does vitamin C benefit you?

1. It is a powerful antioxidant that can help neutralize harmful free radicals. Some of vitamin C’s antioxidant properties have been linked to reduced cancer risk. For example, vitamin C has been linked to limiting the formation of carcinogens in the body. Also, studies have found an inverse association between dietary vitamin C intake and cancers of the lung, breast, colon or rectum, stomach, oral cavity, larynx or pharynx, and esophagus. (1)
2. Vitamin C is needed to make the powerful fiber collagen. Collagen is a fibrous protein in connective tissue that is used throughout various systems in the body: skin, nervous, immune, bone, cartilage, blood, and others. Without enough vitamin C, your body will struggle to make and regenerate these critical cells and tissues. (1)
3. As we learned earlier, vitamin C is found at higher concentrations in white blood cells, which play a critical role in our immune system. Additionally, vitamin C may help reduce the severity of allergic reactions. (3)
4. Vitamin C improves the absorption of non-heme iron, the type of iron found in plant foods such as leafy greens. (4) Having vitamin C at the same time as non-heme iron can help boost your body’s iron absorption.
5. Finally, vitamin C helps make several hormones and chemical messengers used in the brain and nerves (5) and plays an important role in a number of metabolic functions, including activation of the B vitamin folic acid. (3)

How much vitamin C do you need?

The key is consistent daily intake. We learned earlier that our bodies can’t make or store vitamin C very well, which means we need to get this nutrient daily. And how much vitamin C is enough?

Meeting the RDA does not require supplements, study results indicate that supplementation with 1,250 mg/day ascorbic acid produces about two times higher vitamin C concentrations than those seen with consumption of 200–300 mg/day ascorbic acid from vitamin C-rich foods. (1) This means that our bodies can absorb and use a lot more of this health-protecting nutrient than the RDA amount lists.    Check out more on Shaklee’s sustained Vita C & Shaklee’s Chewable Vita C