The Health Benefits Of Vitamin C

What is vitamin C?

Consuming vitamin C also increases the amount of iron we can absorb from food, such as kale, broccoli, and sprouts. Iron is especially good for the body because  it contributes to the normal formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells.

Recommended Daily Allowance of Food Sources of Vitamin C

The Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) for vitamin C is 80mg which most people will achieve by eating a balanced diet.

Besides oranges, foods rich in vitamin C include:

• papaya

• broccoli

• Brussels sprouts

• kiwi

• peppers

• strawberries

• pineapple

People who smoke need more vitamin C than the average person because smoking depletes vitamin C in the body’s tissue and blood.

Can you take too much of Vitamin C?

Taking vitamin C orally produces tissue and plasma concentrations that the body tightly controls. This means that, your body will simply absorb the required amount of vitamin C and the rest will just pass through the urine. However, large doses of vitamin C can give you diarrhea, stomach pain and flatulence.

The total body content of vitamin C ranges from 300mg to about 2g. High levels of vitamin C are maintained in cells and tissues, and are highest in white blood cells, eyes, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, and brain. Low levels of vitamin C are found in extracellular fluids, such as plasma, red blood cells, and saliva.

Vitamin C Supplements