Vitamin C is a crucial and essential element for our health. When you consider that the body does not produce it on its own, we must get it in sufficient quantities from food or pharmaceuticals. Experts recommend consuming 90 mg of vitamin C daily for men and 75 mg for women. And here are five scientifically proven reasons why you should do it.
1. Reducing the risk of chronic disease
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that enhances the body's natural defenses.
Antioxidants are substances that stimulate the immune system. They protect the cells of the body from harmful molecules - free radicals.
Free radicals build up in the body and can cause a condition called oxidative stress. It ultimately causes healthy cells to be destroyed, which results in a number of chronic disorders.
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Research has shown that an increase in vitamin C in the diet can raise blood antioxidant levels by almost a third. This helps the body fight inflammatory processes on its own and reduces the risk of dangerous diseases—for example, cardiovascular issues.
2. Fighting high blood pressure
Constant high blood pressure threatens chronic heart disease. They also account for the majority of deaths worldwide. Researchers have found that vitamin C reduces blood pressure, exerting a relaxing effect on blood vessels' walls.
Of course, you should not rely on vitamins alone in the treatment of hypertension. It has yet to be proven whether it retains a positive effect on blood pressure in the long term. However, it is still an excellent tool for maintaining vascular tone.
3. Reducing the risk of heart disease
Many factors increase your risk of heart disease. For example, all the same, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Vitamin C helps fight these factors and reduces the risks of their occurrence.
Thus, the analysis of several conducted studies showed that people who took high doses of vitamin C for several weeks had a quarter lower risk of heart disease compared to those who did not.
4. Protection against gout
Gout is an illness that causes painful joint inflammation and swelling. Its symptoms appear when the level of uric acid in the blood rises. This acid is a waste product of the body, but it crystallizes and is deposited in the joints when it becomes too much. This causes bouts of acute pain. According to studies, vitamin C aids in lowering blood uric acid levels and, as a result, protects against gout attacks.
5. Prevention of iron deficiency
Iron is an essential element in the body needed to build red blood cells and transport oxygen throughout the body.
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Vitamin C facilitates better absorption of iron from food. A trace element that is found, for example, in foods of plant origin, vitamin C converts into an easy form for absorption by the body. This is important for those who do not eat meat, which is the primary source of iron.
In general, an adequate intake of vitamin C reduces the risk of anemia, and it is especially beneficial for people prone to iron deficiency in the blood.
Adapted and translated by The Cop Cart Staff
Sources: Life hacker
