What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that plays vital roles in keeping you healthy. It is also known as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is commonly used to treat a disease called scurvy. Scurvy is a deadly condition that usually disturbed sailors who were at sea for extended periods of time and so did not access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The name “limey” is used commonly to refer to sailors. This was derived from the lime fruit, since it discovered that lime fruit could prevent scurvy. However, nobody knew, in the beginning, that it was because the lime fruit was a rich source od vitamin C.

How can it benefit you?

Like all vitamins, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and stop them from causing damage. Our body contains free radicals that can harm our cellular system leading to premature aging and various other diseases, if not controlled.

Additionally Vitamin C may also reduce the cross linking of collagen. Collagen is a protein found in the connective tissues, such as skin, that leads to wrinkles, lines, and breakdown of elasticity. In other words, Vitamin C helps in slowing down the aging of skin. Vitamin C also imparts the benefit of aiding the healing process.

Vitamin C is believed to have the ability to prevent cold. However, there are no proper evidences to support this, though studies show that it can reduce the extent and brutality of cold, once infected. This ability is the result of its property to boost and strengthen the immune system. This could be especially vital in case of the elderly.

Additionally, studies have also shown that it protects the lining of the arteries. It therefore increases the resistance of the arteries to injuries that permit plague formation. Simply speaking, vitamin C protects us against heart diseases, which are the #1 killer in the Western world.
More interesting is the fact that this nutrient may also protect against the formation of cataracts, a condition that leads to poor vision.

Precautions

Mega doses of 1000 mcg or more should be avoided if you suffer from kidney stones, since it may worsen the condition. 60 mcg is the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for this nutrient.
Apart from this, vitamin C is very safe. The body can readily excrete excesses in urine, since it is a water-soluble vitamin.

Our Opinion

According to us, you should strongly consider the addition of vitamin C supplement into your daily routine. It becomes even more vital if your diet is lacking fresh vegetables and fruits. Due to modern farming techniques, the nutrients in fruits and vegetables have considerably reduced, and so, it becomes even more important that you consider supplementation.

Tips on Choosing a Vitamin C Supplement

1. In order to maintain general health a regular dose of anywhere between 20 mcg to 60 mcg, since we will also be getting it from other natural sources. However, higher doses may be required to treat specific health conditions.

2. People with higher levels of vitamin C also had higher levels of vitamin E, since they work hand-in-hand with other powerful antioxidants. This enhances and protracts its benefits. Therefore, it is best if you can take vitamin C as part of a more widespread, methodically objective formula rather than as a stand alone product.

3. Always invest your money in a product only from pharmaceutical GMP compliant manufacturers. The pharmaceutical GMP complaint facilities adhere to the highest standards of manufacturing for dietary supplements. Therefore it is necessary that you invest your money in such graded supplements. This is very crucial, because the U.S. supplement industry is unregulated. Even more badly, most products are contaminated or do not even contain what is stated on the label.

This way, you get the amount of vitamin C you paid for. And also ensure that you don’t end up with contaminated ingredients.

The product we personally use called Total Balance - http://www.health-product-we-use.com is the most natural and effective supplement we have come across. We have been using this product for over 3 years with excellent health results.

We highly recommend you learn more about our best natural nutritional supplement if you are interested in improving your overall health.

Jean Helmet runs a series of health websites, We offer a free health book for subscribers to our websites newsletter. We cover everything you need to know on nutrition and how to improve your general overall health. Check out our nutrition e-book, for more information on nutrition and the products we use.