Vitamin C is an essential vitamin. It plays very important role in our bodies. The human body cannot produce it as we are lacking the enzymes, needed for its production.

This vitamin is water soluble and it is found in most of the vegetables and fruit, however many people take extra vitamin C in form of supplement to boost the immune system and increase general wellbeing.

There are many scientifically proven benefits and I am going to list few of them here:

1. Powerful antioxidant, supporting the immune system. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It can help reduce the oxidative stress, caused by harmful molecules, called free radicals. It supports the natural defences of the body and increases antioxidant levels in the body. It enhances the immune system and its functions.
2. May reduce high blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease. Consuming 500mg Vitamin C daily may reduce inflammation in the body and reduce CVD risk. If you are already eating a healthy diet, full of vegetables and fruit, you might not need to supplement, as you will be adding those levels up naturally through food.
3. Better iron absorption. We know that Iron is very important nutrient and adequate levels are needed for the normal blood cells function and oxygen transport. However, in some cases, iron absorption might be more difficult and not at optimal levels. Vitamin C is the key nutrient in those cases, especially in non-meat eaters, as most of iron is available in meat products. Adding an orange or vitamin C to your salads and meals could be a good idea to increase iron absorption and maintain optimal levels.
4. May prevent Gout Attacks. Gout is a type of arthritis, causing pain and inflammation in the small joints. It mostly affects men over 40 years old. In gout cases, uric acid levels are high. Vitamin C may help reduce those levels and decrease gout attacks.
5. Reduces Cancer risk. Many studies have shown that vitamin C may reduce the risk of several types of cancer. It might be linked to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
6. Healthy brain and healthy ageing. Regular Vitamin C intake is very important for longevity and healthy ageing. Inflammation and oxidative stress play negative role in the ageing stage. It might lead to Dementia or any other disease risk. Keeping up vitamin C levels might reduce the risk and promote healthy ageing at cellular levels.
7. Promote endocrine and adrenal support. Our adrenal glands play a huge role in the human body. One of the hormones they produce is called cortisol- the stress hormone. It can regulate our stress levels, positive stress response, healthy mood, balanced nervous system, etc. Our adrenal glands need vitamin C to be able to function and regulate those hormones.
8. May prevent from Common Colds. And again, adequate vitamin C levels are needed to reduce the risk or severity of the common colds and flu.
9. May reduce toxicity. Vitamin C has ability to bind the toxins in the body and neutralise them. In that case it may reduce the free radicals in the body, causing inflammation and oxidative stress. Toxicity might be from infectious diseases such as virus or bacteria, environmental or heavy metal toxicity.

Overall, vitamin C is an excellent nutrient to reduce inflammation, improve antioxidant levels, boost immune functions, reduce CVD, help and prevent Gout attacks in gout patients, reduce toxicity, increase longevity and many more benefits on the human body.

A healthy diet, full of seasonal fruit and vegetables, like broccoli, green leafy vegetables, spinach, peppers, citrus fruit, kiwi, apples, etc, is a great way to maintain a healthy vitamin C levels in daily life. Supplementing with this nutrient might be beneficial in chronic diseases or other conditions in which the body needs extra support to maintain optimal levels.

It is always a great idea to discuss your diet with your health practitioner to find out if you need extra support through food, supplements or lifestyle modifications.