This month we see... Vitamin C!

We may have hazy memories of learning about Vitamin C and its many benefits in school, about how its deficiency causes scurvy and about how many sailors suffered from this problem owing to lack of Vitamin C. Let’s have a brief refresher and look at this micro nutrient and what it can do for us.

Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is considered to be one of the most vital nutrients required for normal functioning of the body.

What are some impressive ways that Vitamin C benefits your body?

1. Powerful antioxidant: Vitamin C has strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties that help in strengthening the body’s defenses towards chronic illnesses.
2. Vital for brain health: Vitamin C helps various functions of the brain by positively affecting neuromodulation, development of new blood vessels and preventing neuronal damage. It also contributes to various defense mechanisms in the brain.
3. Mood lifter: According to various studies, Vitamin C has been shown to promote oxytocin release which leads to a reduction in mood disturbance.
4. Lowers anxiety: Studies have shown that Vitamin C has had anxiety lowering effects on high school students and diabetic patients.
5. Aids in battling high blood pressure: Vitamin C has helped in maintaining normal blood pressure levels in some patients, however long-term effects are still to be studied.
6. Reduces risk of heart disease: Supplementation of Vitamin C with a healthy lifestyle has shown to help reduce factors such as bad triglyceride and cholesterol levels that affect heart disease occurrences.
7. Helps with uric acid levels: Interestingly studies have shown that Vitamin C may help reduce uric acid levels in the blood thus helping with prevention of gout attacks.
8. Improves iron absorption: Vitamin C may help with absorption of iron especially in meat free diets and thus may help in iron deficiencies (also known as anemias).
9. Boosts immunity: Vitamin C helps white blood cells function more effectively by protecting them from damage and also hastening up wound healing.
10. Protects from age-related memory problems: Dementia in aged patients has shown to have been associated with Vitamin C deficiencies in some patients and supplementation has shown to have had positive effects on the same patients

Now that we know about the importance of Vitamin C levels in the body, let’s learn about its nature. It is a water soluble nutrient and cannot be produced by the body at will. For this reason, Vitamin C must be sourced from outside in abundance to fulfill every need of the body. Let’s have a look at how this can be done.

1. Natural sources:

Most people are aware that Vitamin C can be found in foods consumed as a part of our normal diet routines. Some foods exceptionally rich in Vitamin C include oranges, red and green peppers, strawberries, kiwi, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, tomatoes and grapefruit

2. Supplementation:

Unfortunately, the Vitamin C present in our diet may not be sufficient to fulfill the body’s requirements. Hence, dietary supplements that help with Vitamin C levels are needed to enhance its positive effects on the body’s systems

How much Vitamin C do we require on a daily basis?

According to Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine, growing infants require 50 mg, but then the amount drops down to 15 mg for children up to three years old.

It climbs slowly back up from that point, maxing out at 90 mg for adult men and 75 mg for adult women.

Looking for supplement recommendations?

Although a diet rich in citrus foods and beverages may provide a decent amount of Vitamin C, at times it may not be enough to fight illnesses such as the common cold. In such situations, it is better to supplement your normal diet plan with other readily available options. It is fulfilling and incredibly easy.

At QOL, we support and recommend Advasorb® Vitamin C as our go-to product for protection, detoxification, and immune support.

Combining PureWay--C®, a unique, rapidly absorbed, and better retained form of vitamin C with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), this potent formula delivers:

• Antioxidant Protection: Vitamin C and NAC are both antioxidants that neutralize harmful free radicals*
• Detoxification Support: Animal and human studies have demonstrated that both vitamin C and NAC help the body detoxify a range of pollutants, including heavy metals, automobile exhaust, tobacco smoke, industrial chemicals, and pesticides*
• Immune Support: Human clinical trials have shown that daily intake of vitamin C during the cold-weather season can promote immune response*

Our formula also contains black pepper extract, calcium, and magnesium that work to further help strengthen the bones and muscles of the body.* Calcium also acts like an antacid thus preventing heartburn and other gastric disturbances.* Magnesium is an essential macronutrient that plays a role as many enzyme systems.* It also enhances the absorption of calcium in the body.*

Even though you may be sick of hearing from parents and teachers time and again, "Drink your orange juice," scientific understanding of the role of vitamin C in health is extremely important.

Now that we have established a strong connection between this powerful antioxidant and good health, here’s wishing all our QOL Family members, a happy vitamin C rich life ahead!

"*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."