Benefits of Taking Vitamin C Supplements

Vitamin C is an amazing antioxidant with numerous benefits associated with taking this supplement. It is required for adrenal gland function healthy gums and tissue repair and growth.

It defends our bodies against the damaging effects of pollution as well as aids our bodies in the production of anti-stress hormones and interferon. Our body needs this vitamin for the metabolism of folic acid, phenylalanine and tyrosine.

This important vitamin is believed to reduce high blood pressure. Yet other benefits believed related from taking vitamin C is it may reduce cholesterol levels and prevent atherosclerosis.

More of the benefits of vitamin C include protecting our bodies against infection, cancer, and enhancing our immunity. It increases the body's ability to absorb iron. It is Essential in the formation of collagen and protects against bruising and blood clotting. This vitamin also promotes the healing of bruising and wounds.

Evidence is showing there are benefits from taking vitamin E and vitamin C in combination. They work synergistically. They reinforce and extend each other's antioxidant action. In other words these vitamins work together causing them to have a greater effect than if they work separately. Vitamin C attracts free radicals in biologic fluids while vitamin E scavenges for dangerous free radicals in cell membranes.

Signs of deficiencies of this vitamin include susceptibility to infection especially bronchial infections and colds, joint pains and poor digestion. Other signs of deficiencies of vitamin C include lack of energy, tendency to bruise easily, tooth loss and poor digestion.

A vitamin C deficiency can result in the disease scurvy. This disease is not common in Western countries. Soft spongy bleeding gums, extreme weakness, edema, poor wound healing, and hemorrhages under the skin are all characteristics of scurvy.

Vitamin C must be obtained through one's diet or in the form of supplements. The body cannot manufacture this vitamin. Most of the vitamin consumed in one's diet is lost in the urine.

Individuals who require large amounts because of serious illness like cancer may benefit from taking vitamin C supplement intravenously rather than an oral form. This requires the advice and supervision of their physician.

Serious depletion of vitamin C can be caused by smoking. Other ways levels of the vitamin may be reduced is by consuming alcohol, antidepressants anticoagulants, oral contraceptives, analgesics or steroids.

Those afflicted with chronic illnesses like AIDS or cancer Ester C has been found to be extremely effective and these individuals have benefited from taking the supplements. This is an esterified vitamin C supplement. This is created by having the vitamin react with a necessary mineral like magnesium, calcium, potassium zinc, or sodium.

This causes the vitamin to become nonacidic but contains the vitamin's metabolites identical to those produced by the body. It enters the body's tissues and bloodstream four times faster than the standard form of the vitamin. It also stays in the body tissues longer and moves into the blood cells more efficiently. Only one third as much is lost through the urine when vitamin C is supplemented in this esterified form.

Individuals who take aspirin regularly will benefit using an esterified vitamin C supplement. Taking the standard form of the vitamin can result in stomach irritation that may lead to ulcers. For the greatest benefit from vitamin C supplements doses should be divided. Taking the supplements twice a day is more beneficial than taking it just once a day.

Pregnant women should not take doses greater than 5,000 milligrams of vitamin C supplement daily because when the infants are deprived of the megadoses they have become used to, the infants can develop scurvy after birth.

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