April 4 is known as National Vitamin C Day in the United States, and was created to celebrate all of the wonderful ways that Vitamin C impacts our health. I will admit that I used to think that Vitamin C meant oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. I knew that it was good for our immune systems, but not much outside of that. But Vitamin C has so many positive effects on our bodies that it deserves more love than what I was giving it!
Vitamin C Uses
We have all pretty much heard that Vitamin C is good for building our immune systems, but it's actually good for so much more than that! Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant, which means it's a natural source of substances that can stop or delay cell damage, and who doesn't want more of that?!?! Because of its antioxidant properties, Vitamin C can help with wound healing and the production of collagen (the protein found in bones, tissues and blood vessels). As a natural antioxidant, it also has been shown to reduce the risks of cancer, cardiac and respiratory disease. Vitamin C can also be useful in enhancing brain health, and has been used as an complementary treatment for Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, etc.
Last but not least, Vitamin C has been shown to have excellent anti-aging properties-particularly with our skin. It has the ability to help with collagen synthesis and promotes skin regeneration, which helps in keeping skin youthful and moisturized. Skin health is something that I have become more interested in as I've reached more birthdays.
Vitamin C Sources
Vitamin C is found in many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat on a daily basis. Here's a list:
Citrus Fruits (lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruit)
Yellow/Orange fruits (cantaloupe, mango, pineapple)
Berries (raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, cranberry)
Broccoli, green peppers, brussels sprouts, tomato, spinach
There are several ways to easily incorporate these into your daily routine. For example, you can add lemon or lime juice to your water to give your drink a vitamin c boost. Or you could make a morning smoothie with berries and citrus to get your day started. By supplementing with a vitamin or adding more vitamin c rich foods to your daily diet, you can ensure that you are doing something good to protect your temple!
Comments