Vitamin C Benefits - Why it is So Important to Get the Proper Daily Dose of Vitamin C

Your body requires a lot of vitamins on a daily basis in order to stay healthy. Vitamin C is one of these and the vitamin C benefits are very extensive.

Maintaining a proper diet is by far the best way to get the nutrition you require. Foods that are high in vitamin C include: citrus fruits, green peppers, other green vegetables, strawberries, milk, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, fish and many others. Make sure that you check the labels on the foods which you eat. Often, vitamin C will be labeled as ascorbic acid. If you are concerned that you are not getting enough vitamin C from your diet, then it would be wise to consult with your family doctor concerning this. Your doctor may advise you to take a daily supplement to ensure that your body receives enough of a daily supply.

There are 13 vitamins that our bodies absolutely require and vitamin C is one of these. Some of these 13 vitamins have the ability to be stored by the body because they are fat soluble. Now vitamin C is water soluble so it cannot be stored within. For this reason, you must consume it somehow, each and every day. So how much do you need to take on a daily basis? Well this will depend on many things such as how old you are, your weight, gender, lifestyle, exercise level and whether or not you are pregnant.

So what exactly are the vitamin C benefits and what does it actually do for us? First and foremost, vitamin C is known as an antioxidant. This means that it helps to prevent adverse forces within our body that would otherwise lead to cell, tissue and organ damage. Because it protects the structures within your body, it will thereby slow down the aging process. People who are severely deficient in vitamin C can end up with a condition called scurvy. Now scurvy is very uncommon in this day and age but it still does occasionally occur. Some of the signs and symptoms of scurvy are gum problems, frequent bleeding, general weakness and anemia.

If you start taking nutritional supplements for the vitamin C benefits, then be sure to follow the directions which your doctor gives you. Taking too much vitamin C can be bad for you, just as too much of any vitamin is not a good thing. It is rare, though, to overdose on vitamin C because it is water soluble and so will generally be excreted from the body if not required. Overdosing over an extended period of time, however, can result in kidney stones. It can also block vitamin B12 absorption which will result in anemia. Persistent diarrhea is another overdose symptom. It is always best to follow the guidance of your family doctor.

Generally speaking, you will get sufficient vitamin C and thus the vitamin C benefits from your daily diet, especially if this diet is healthy. If for some reason you are deficient in vitamin C, then your family doctor may advise you to take a supplement. Make sure that you scrutinize the labels of the various brands, prior to purchasing. Since vitamin supplements are classified as foods as opposed to drugs, there is no government regulation with respect to the quality of their manufacture. Therefore, there can be a wide range of potency between the different brands.

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