Vitamin C
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid , is undoubtedly the best-known vitamin! Renowned for its many benefits, it is hugely popular these days. It helps in particular to maintain immunity and promote tone and vitality. Convinced of its essential role for the body, this vitamin was the first supplement in our range!
Today, find out everything you need to know before starting your vitamin C treatment!
What is vitamin C?
Vitamin C is the most powerful vitamin available for consumption. The body needs it to maintain good health. Indeed, vitamin C acts in particular as an antioxidant with an essential role in maintaining the immune system and fighting free radical stress.
But this water-soluble vitamin cannot be manufactured or stored by the body. To meet our needs, we must therefore draw from food (from fruits and vegetables) or take it in the form of food supplements.
What are the main sources of vitamin C?
Human beings, unlike animals and certain mammals, cannot synthesize vitamin C. We can therefore obtain it through our diet. Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
The best food sources of vitamin C: oranges, red and green peppers, strawberries, kiwis, broccoli and even Brussels sprouts.
Recommended intakes of vitamin C
The recommended daily intakes of vitamin C are as follows:
- Children: 60-100 mg
- Adolescents and adults: 110 mg
However, these doses are sometimes controversial because they only correspond to the minimum threshold allowing scurvy to be avoided. However, to fully benefit from the protective effects of vitamin C , many nutritionists recommend considerably increasing this nutritional intake to reach 1000 mg per day .
It should be noted that the needs are higher in the following cases:
- in the elderly;
- in pregnant women;
- in people suffering from pathologies (fracture, infections, anticancer treatment);
- in smokers or people consuming alcohol;
- in people practicing intense physical activity.
Lack of vitamin C: what are the symptoms?
Severe ascorbic acid deficiencies were particularly problematic in the 15th and 16th centuries and were the cause of a serious illness, scurvy . Nowadays, scurvy practically no longer exists.
But when the body does not receive enough vitamin C, it can lead to a deficiency which manifests itself in several ways:
- generalized fatigue;
- lack of appetite and weight loss;
- decline in the immune system (repeated infections, colds, flu);
- swollen and painful joints;
- slow healing.
Although the signs and symptoms of vitamin C deficiency are not too bothersome in the short term, related health problems can worsen over time and become detrimental (hypertension, gallbladder disease, stroke , development of certain cancers, etc.).
We recommend you
Vitamin C powder
Pure vitamin C in extra soluble powder of plant origin (100% L-ascorbic acid).
- ✅ Available in 2 formats (500g/1kg)
- ✅ Purity > 99.9%
- ✅ Measuring spoon included
- ✅ Packaged in France
What are the benefits of vitamin C?
It supports the immune system
The immune system is the system that protects the body from viruses, microbes and diseases (flu, coryza, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, herpes). Thanks to its antioxidant action, vitamin C helps to strengthen this “shield”. It promotes the mobilization of white blood cells which are responsible for protecting the body from bacteria.
It promotes tone and vitality
Thanks to its role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters in the brain and nervous system, vitamin C is an excellent way to fight against temporary fatigue and restore all its vitality to the body!
It fights against the damage caused by free radicals
Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants that help protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals as well as toxic chemicals like cigarette smoke.
Free radicals can build up in the body and contribute to the development of health problems such as cancer, heart disease or arthritis. Free radicals are formed when the body breaks down food or when it is exposed to smoke, tobacco, or radiation.
It promotes skin health
Vitamin C participates in the polymerization (synthesis) process of collagen fibers. Collagen is a protein that plays a vital role in the maintenance and regeneration of bone mass, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels and skin .
It gives elasticity and resistance to the different organs and tissues of our body. Vitamin C therefore helps the body form scar tissue and heal wounds.
High intakes of vitamin C have also been shown to reduce the likelihood of wrinkles and dry skin.
It increases the assimilation of iron and calcium
Vitamin C improves iron absorption . This property is important because iron is an absolutely essential mineral for the body which needs it for the production of hemoglobin and the regulation of brain and muscular functions. Adequate iron absorption is therefore necessary to avoid anemia and fatigue.
Iron is not the only nutrient that can be absorbed more efficiently with the help of vitamin C. Research also shows that ascorbic acid can improve intestinal absorption of calcium, essential for developing and maintaining good health. bones and the regulation of heart rate.
It improves physical performance
As we explain in a blog article , some studies have shown that vitamin C supplementation would increase physical performance and muscle strength , improve oxygen intake during physical exercise and reduce blood pressure.
Using vitamin C before strenuous exercise, such as a marathon, may also prevent upper respiratory infections that sometimes occur after this type of exercise.
It promotes brain health
Vitamin C plays an important role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters , essential elements for the proper functioning of the brain. By participating in the synthesis of these molecules, it helps support attention and reduce stress and mental fatigue.
