We all heard that oranges will fight off a cold, to take our emergency Vitamin C drink in order to stay well over the flu season. We know it’s good for us, but we wanted to dig a little deeper and see exactly what our body does with Vitamin C, and the reasons you need Vitamin C daily.
1. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant.
Vitamin C shares its electrons to support or help neutralize free radicals which can contribute to cellular damage. The electrons in our bodies need other electrons, in which they attach to the atoms in our bodies. If there are not enough electrons for the atoms to attach to, they may instead connect to other atoms instead. This forms what we call free radicals. These are unstable and end up reacting quickly with other substances.
When this happens to oxygen molecules, it leads to something called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress damages the body’s cells which then causes not only disease, but also signs of age, including wrinkles.
Free radicals can occur from stressors such as exposures to environmental pollutants, high stress, poor diet, chemical exposures, drug or alcohol use, EMFs (electromagnetic fields), common viruses and more.
Vitamin C can help prevent this, by lending its electrons to our body’s cells, which can delay, prevent, neutralize or stabilize the free radicals.
2. Vitamin C supports skin, hair, and nail health.
Vitamin C supports the synthesis of collagen in the body. Collagen is a protein that we have all heard of, and this is because it does such wonderful things as adds shape and strength to our tissue, which in turn creates stronger fingernails, a more resilient head of hair, and even stronger teeth.
Normal skin needs high volumes of Vitamin C and this is to aid in the formation of collagen as well as to counteract oxidation.
3. Vitamin C is shown to be supportive of cardiovascular health.
According to a 2015 study by the University of Copenhagen and Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, high concentrations of Vitamin C in the blood from fruits and vegetables is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and early death.
4. Regular use of Vitamin C has been associated with helping reduce the length of the common cold.
Even though our bodies do not make Vitamin C on their own, it is needed for iron absorption, immune function, healthy hair and skin, and so much more. If you want to gain the maximum benefit from this mighty vitamin, it is best to consume it daily. Making it a part of your daily routine can keep your overall health in check and according to Harvard University, even shorten the length of your next cold.
5. Vitamin C plays a role in epigenetics and helps to protect the integrity of DNA by acting as a powerful antioxidant.
These findings could lead to new developments in regenerative medicine and get us closer to understanding how we may be able to reprogram cells from one type to another.
6. Vitamin C influences gene activity.
Vitamin C helps our bodies make something called THF (tetrahydrofolate), which our bodies turn into DHF (Dihydrofolic acid) which will become dUMP (deoxyuridine monophosphate). Through a process called Thymidylate synthase dUMP is made into dTMP (deoxythymidine monophosphate) which can help us make DNA, which helps us regenerate our tissue. THF also gives our bodies FTHF (Formyltetrahydrofolate) which then helps us with Purine synthesis to make DNA and RNA. You will then end up with some very good proteins, including collagen.
If you are wanting to know more about the effects of Vitamin C on our genes, I suggest watching this video from Medicosis Perfectionalis that explains everything quite well and in a way that most can understand.
7. Vitamin C supports immune function.
Being an antioxidant, Vitamin C protects our cells from the damage caused by free radicals. It also promotes the production of pathogen fighting white blood cells that fight off disease, infections, and are a part of our adaptive immune system.
Liposomal Vitamin C
Liposomal Vitamin C is an efficient and delicious way to introduce Vitamin C to the body. Vitamin C can be difficult to absorb in high doses due to requiring a somewhat restrictive nutrient transport system to carry the Vitamin C across the intestines into the bloodstream and then to the cells. And then, because this vitamin is water-soluble, your body doesn’t store any more than it uses, so, any excess is excreted. The other problem is that high dose intake of Vitamin C can often contribute to gastric upset.
Liposomal Vitamin C, however, doesn’t need the same nutrient transport system to be absorbed. Vitamin C, wrapped in a liposome, can be easily absorbed through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream. The liposomes then carry Vitamin C to the necessary cells where they are needed. This form of Vitamin C also allows for higher oral supplementation without contributing to so much gastric upset.
