Vitamin C is one of the most well-known and widely used vitamins. It’s found in fruits and vegetables, as well as a number of other foods you might not expect.
Did you know that oranges are the second-highest source of Vitamin C after potatoes?
Even more surprising, some types of beer contain high levels of Vitamin C.
It’s no wonder that so many people take Vitamin C supplements daily to boost their intake and avoid falling short on this essential vitamin.
However, do you really need to supplement with it every day? Does it even have many proven benefits for your body?
Let’s find out!
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that’s important for your health in many ways. It is necessary for things like building new bones and muscles, supporting your immune system, and keeping your blood vessels healthy.
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that helps protect your body from oxidative stress and damage.
This essential vitamin also plays a role in keeping your skin healthy and looking its best!
When people think about Vitamin C, they often think about scurvy, which is a disease caused by Vitamin C deficiency. You may have heard that you need to eat a lot of oranges or other citrus fruits to avoid this disease.
While this is partially true, it’s also possible to get enough Vitamin C from other sources, including vegetables, fruits, and other foods.
Vitamin C Benefits and Uses
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that your body needs to function well. It plays a role in many important bodily functions, including building new bones and muscles, immune system support, and keeping your skin healthy. This vitamin also helps fight oxidative damage to your cells and tissues.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can help protect your body from oxidative stress and damage.
Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals are produced in the body. Free radicals can damage cells by breaking down DNA, causing inflammation, and causing cell death.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects against these free radicals by helping neutralize their harmful effects on cells and tissues.
While it can be beneficial to get enough Vitamin C through food sources (especially fruits and vegetables), you may want to consider taking a supplement if you’re not getting enough by eating foods high in Vitamin C (such as citrus fruits).
If you take a supplement every day, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re getting enough of this essential vitamin for optimal health.
You should also make sure you don’t take too much Vitamin C at one time because it can cause stomach upset or diarrhea if too much is consumed at one time.
How Much Vitamin C Do You Need?
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Vitamin C is 90 milligrams for men and 75 milligrams for women.
In general, most people don’t fall short in Vitamin C.
That said, it’s important to note that Vitamin C is water-soluble and any excess will be flushed out of your system.
This means you should try to avoid taking more Vitamin C than you need each day.
Excess Vitamin C may cause side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Some people may be at risk of falling short in Vitamin C, including pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, seniors, and those who are sick or stressed.
Athletes and people who exercise heavily may also fall short in this essential vitamin.
The Problem with Taking Vitamin C Supplements Daily
As we mentioned above, most people don’t actually fall short in Vitamin C.
In fact, most of us probably take in more than enough daily. This means that taking too much Vitamin C or taking it every day as a supplement, may not be helpful to you.
In fact, it may even be harmful. Excessive Vitamin C intake has been linked to kidney stones, iron deficiency, and even scurvy in some cases.
If you’re taking a Vitamin C supplement every day, be careful not to take too much.
There may also be better alternatives to supplementing with Vitamin C. For example, eating foods high in Vitamin C like oranges, broccoli, potatoes, and bell peppers may be a more natural way to get what you need without the risk of over-taking it.
Should You Take A Vitamin C Supplement Every Day?
While there is not necessarily a need to take Vitamin C supplements on a daily basis, there is also no reason to avoid them. If you eat foods that are rich in Vitamin C like oranges, broccoli, potatoes and bell peppers, it’s unlikely that you need a supplement.
In fact, making sure your diet is full of these healthy foods may be even more important for your health than taking vitamin C supplements every day.
If you are looking for a natural way to boost your Vitamin C intake and help protect against the common cold or other illnesses, try eating more foods high in Vitamin C like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and green vegetables.
Final Words
Vitamin C is an important and essential vitamin that many of us don’t get enough of. Luckily, you can find this vitamin in many different foods and it’s easy to get enough through your diet.
Taking a Vitamin C supplement every day may not be necessary if you eat a healthy diet.
That said, if you have a health condition that makes it difficult for you to get enough Vitamin C, or you’re following a vegan or vegetarian diet, then considering supplementing with Vitamin C may be a good idea.
