Vitamin C and Your Immune System
Many Americans still don’t get enough of this essential nutrient and researchers say more is better when it comes to Vitamin C and your immune system. That’s thanks to vitamin C’s widespread beneficial impact on your immunity and general health, which we’ll explore below.
Why You Need Vitamin C
You’re exposed to free radicals daily through air pollution and other toxins.
Every second of every day, your body is bombarded by free radicals (unstable compounds that damage your body’s cells and can cause everything from disease to premature aging). You’re exposed to free radicals in the air you breathe, the sunshine that touches your skin, the material and dyes in your clothing, and the food that you eat.
As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps to guard your cells against the damage created by free radicals. And therein lies this nutrient’s power.
Because damage caused by free radicals lies at the root of so many illnesses and health maladies, it’s no wonder that an antioxidant like vitamin C plays a huge role in helping to prevent such problems.
Vitamin C may play a role in:
- Improving your skin health (yes, including fine lines and wrinkles)
- Healing wounds faster
- Boosting your body’s total antioxidant levels by up to 30%
- Cutting heart disease risks by 25%
- Strengthening your bones
- And more!
When it comes specifically to your immunity, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Studies suggest a wide range of benefits, such as:
- Increased production of white blood cells
- Improved health of immune cells
- Reduced risks of the common cold (a type of coronavirus)
- Supported overall immunity in children
- And more!
Signs of a Vitamin C Deficiency
Adult men need a minimum of 90 mg of vitamin C a day, while adult women need 75 mg.
Fatigue, low energy and a poor mood are common signs of a vitamin C deficiency. Likewise, experiencing any of the above problems that vitamin C helps guard against can be a clue. For instance, many people who don’t have high levels of vitamin C in their system might experience slower healing times when they’re injured, or poor skin health (rashes, dry skin, premature aging, etc.).
Adult men need a minimum of 90 mg of vitamin C a day, while adult women need 75 mg.
However, the National Institutes of Health point out that exposure to some lifestyle habits can affect how much of this nutrient your body needs. For example, the institutes note that smoking (which is a major source of free radicals!) increases your vitamin C needs by 35 mg (i.e. more than a third of your daily needs!).
Thus, you may wish to talk to your doctor or medical professional about whether higher, therapeutic levels of vitamin C may be beneficial for you.
How to Get More Vitamin C
Grapefruit and other citrus fruits are top sources of vitamin C in your diet.
Most of the studies cited above looked at people who took vitamin C supplements. Such supplements are cost-effective, convenient and readily available.
But you can also enjoy vitamin C in your diet through a healthy, balanced lifestyle that’s rich in fruits and vegetables. Some of the best dietary sources of this crucial antioxidant include:
- 3/4 cup of grapefruit juice or orange juice (90+ mg)
- 1 medium orange (65 mg)
- 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper (59 mg)
- 1/2 cup cooked broccoli (51 mg)
- 1 banana (10 mg)
- 1 cup of raw spinach (8 mg)
Finally, no system in your body operates in a vacuum. This especially includes your immune system. There are many factors that affect your immunity, including thymic proteins. These proteins help your immune system respond to threats. BioProPlus-500 includes five bioidentical thymic proteins to support your immunity, and also includes the micronutrient zinc that works well with vitamin C to support full-body wellness and guard against free radical damage.
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