Vitamin C is considered Vitamin C one of the vitamins the body does not produce, so you have to get it through your diet or supplements. Also, it's water-soluble, and the body gets rid of extra amounts through urine.
Many studies show vitamin C can treat and prevent various health issues, from colds and flu to more serious ones like arthritis and age-related diseases such as macular degeneration andAlzheimer's.
This article will cover 9 important health benefits of vitamin C.
9 Important Health Benefits of Vitamin C
1. Vitamin C reduces the risk of chronic diseases
Vitamin C is one of the antioxidants, which means it’s a natural substance that might help treat, prevent, or slow down some chronic health issues by fighting free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells and cause disease.
Research has linked oxidative stress caused by free radicals in the body to many chronic diseases, including heart diseases andrheumatoid arthritis chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney diseases.
Vitamin C can reduce oxidative stress and help avoid chronic diseases by:-
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Boosting the immune system.
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Reducing inflammation.
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Maintaining cell health.
2. Vitamin C lowers the risk of heart disease
Research also shows that oxidative stress caused by free radicals plays a role in some heart and vascular diseases. This is because oxidative stress can lead to atherosclerosis, which is thickening of the arteries due to buildup of deposits cholesterol fat, and other substances, causing coronary artery disease.
Also, some studies suggest oxidative stress might cause some heart conditions like these:-
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Poor blood flow Ischemia.
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High blood pressure Hypertension.
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Heart muscle disease Cardiomyopathy.
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Heart muscle enlargement Cardiac hypertrophy.
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Congestive heart failure.
So, the antioxidant effect of vitamin C might help prevent many health problems related to heart health.
3. Vitamin C helps lower risks of some types of cancer.
Health care providers recommend eating more fruits and veggies with antioxidants, since people who eat diets high in antioxidants, including vitamin C, have lower risks of certain types of cancer.
Also, some studies showed that using vitamin C in supportive care, and high doses via IV, can help improve quality of life and reduce side effects of harsh cancer treatments.
Besides that, many studies looked into antioxidants like vitamin C for cancer treatment and prevention. They found that vitamin C supplements alone or with others can't prevent or cure cancer, but antioxidants protect cells from damage, which helps lower cancer risk.
4. Vitamin C prevents gout attacks
Gout is a common and very painful arthritis that mainly affects big toes. It happens due to high uric acid in the blood, forming crystals in joints that cause inflammation and painful attacks.
Many studies showed vitamin C can prevent gout by lowering uric acid levels. This might be due to its antioxidant properties, as people with high oxidative stress have higher uric acid levels.
5. Vitamin C prevents iron deficiency anemia
In the case of anemiaThe blood doesn't have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. The most common type of anemia is caused by iron deficiency. IronThe body needs this mineral to make red blood cells.
Vitamin C helps the body absorb some nutrients, including iron. So healthcare providers recommend vitamin C supplements with iron supplements to treat anemia. Vitamin C increases iron absorption by 67%.
6. Vitamin C boosts the immune system and wound healing
A common use of vitamin C is to boost the immune system, And it can do this by:
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Helping the body produce several types of immune cells that protect against infection.
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Improves immune cell functions.
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Protects against free radical damage.
Also, studies show vitamin C helps the immune system treat some infections, which include:-
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COVID-19.
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Pneumonia.
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Sepsis.
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Other respiratory infections.
Also, vitamin C is sometimes used orally or topically to heal skin wounds. Studies found that using vitamin C can:
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Reduce deaths from severe burns.
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Cut down on skin inflammations like psoriasis.
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Protect skin from sun damage.
These effects are believed to be mostly due to vitamin C's antioxidant activity and its ability to boost production ofcollagen in the skin.
7. Vitamin C fights colds
The usual idea of taking vitamin C to treat colds may not be as smart as people think since many studies show mixed results about vitamin C helping to treat or prevent respiratory infections.
Still, many studies suggest that vitamin C supplements might offer important benefits related to colds, These benefits include:-
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Shortening the length of colds.
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Reducing how bad the cold symptoms get.
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Lowering the risk of catching colds for people in tough environments.
8. Vitamin C slows age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disorder that can cause blindness over time. Studies show antioxidants, including vitamin C, might stop AMD from getting worse.
Also, studies found that people who took supplements with vitamin C had less progress in age-related macular degeneration.
Vitamin C boosts brain health
Vitamin C’s antioxidant action might help brain health. Research shows a regular diet plus supplements like vitamin C could protect against age-related nerve damage and prevent many aging diseasesIncluding:
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Alzheimer's disease.
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Parkinson's disease.
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Multiple sclerosis.
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Huntington's disease.
Also, vitamin C might help treat or lower the risk of mental health disorders, Including:-
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Anxiety.
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Schizophrenia.
Many studies also show that vitamin C deficiency might contribute to the development of those mental and neurodegenerative conditions. So you should make sure to get enough vitamin C through diet or supplements.
