Vitamin C (also called ascorbic acid) benefits go beyond fighting occasional fatigue, as it helps your body absorb the nutrients it requires, and supports collagen, carnitine and catecholamine biosynthesis, while fighting bacteria and oxidation.

Many types and brands of vitamin C are available on the market; however, it is important to check the composition as some of them are not efficient. Understanding the difference between artificial, natural or natural synthetic but also between fruit content and actual vitamin C content is vital to your health.

It is probably not necessary to explain why natural is best; however, it is important to highlight the necessity to read the labels. Regulations often allow companies to write “Natural” on the label as long as there is at least 10% natural extracts in a product, which, as some studies show, is too little to be optimal.

With that said, there’s more you need to know:

1. Vitamin C Is Essential For Life

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant to fight against free radicals and aging, otherwise called Oxidative Stress. It is an essential element for body functions. White blood cells, also called leukocytes, contain a lot of vitamin C. In case of disease, infection or trauma, vitamin C reserves are easily depleted.

Vitamin C works works at many levels:

• Supports natural defenses and boosts the immune system

• Fights free-radicals

• Stimulates physical and intellectual well-being

• Supports the healing process and prevents infections

• Helps the repair and growth of healthy tissues

• Aids in collagen formation, as well as healthy bones and gums, skin, hair, joints and blood vessels

• Helps to increase iron absorption

• Contains stimulating and tranquilizing properties, which help to fight stress and insomnia

Vitamin C helps in the mobilization of white blood cells and neurofil, making them more prone to fight bacteria. It is also essential to synthesis of antibodies. In high doses, it has an antiviral effect. Vitamin C has also been shown to have other benefits, including decreasing risk of chronic diseases, depression, allergies, arthritis and hypertension.

2. The Human Body Is Unable To Produce And Store Vitamin C

Vitamin C has a very similar structure to glucose. Most plants and animals produce their own vitamin C through biosynthesis; however, the human body (and a few other mammals) are not able to go through this process due to the lack of one enzyme called Gulanalactone-oxydase. After intestinal absorption, vitamin C is allocated in the tissues, but, as it can’t be stored, it is important to renew intake.

With lifestyle changes, stress and environmental pollution, our needs for vitamin C – essential to body functions – have increased. In today’s modern world, it is impossible to guarantee the quality and freshness of the food we buy in stores. Transformation, sometimes even simply storage, destroys vitamin C content, which explains why most people have a vitamin C deficiency. It is then very important to find new sources of vitamin C.

3. Vitamin C Is One Of The Most Unstable And Sensitive Vitamins

Vitamin C is heat, air and water sensitive and these can affect its potency and effectiveness. Fruits and vegetables going through a transformation process (canned, frozen or dehydrated) are blanched first, which destroys 95% of their vitamin C content. Fresh spinach left at room temperature after being harvested loses up to 30% of its vitamin C content in one day!

During food preparation, the simple action of peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables engages an oxidation process that destroys a large part of the vitamin C content. During the cooking process, about 50% of the vitamin C content is lost.

So, even if you’re consuming fruits and veggies often throughout the day, it still might not be enough to meet your body’s needs. In Part 2, we’ll look at the last four facts you need to know about vitamin C, such as how there are various different kinds of the vitamin! There is much to be learned, so be ready!

_{This post was first published on Your Vitality Store blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Image credit: Fresh salad with strawberry, orange and spinach from Shutterstock}

_{Edited by Nedda Chaplin}

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