Often when discussing vitamins, this is the basic question in everybody’s mind. You might have many people saying that having Vitamin C helps you recover fast and stay safe. But, there is a debate among the doctors over its effectiveness.
Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling said vitamin C has immune-enhancing properties in his books. And since then, a large number of people, as well as doctors, have believed that Vitamin C does wonders to our immune system.
Here are some possible benefits that one derives from Vitamin C. Let’s have a look at them.
Enhances immunity
It is a proven fact that Vitamin C does improve your immune system. Natural sources of Vitamin C have a high amount of antioxidants in them. The antioxidants keep in check the oxidants in our bodies and thus improve our immune system. So, including a liposomal Vitamin C supplement in your diet will help your body fight all kinds of antigens.
It keeps your brain healthy
With age, people start being forgetful and may lose their ability to recall information as readily as before. One of the main reasons behind this could be a shortage of Vitamin C in the body. Since Vitamin C has antioxidant properties, it helps to reduce the inflammation and oxidative stress in the nervous system. So if you want to keep your brain young, have a proper amount of Vitamin C in your diet.
Prevent iron shortage
As we all know, iron is required to maintain the healthy production of heamoglobin, which carries oxygen around in the body. Sometimes the iron that we intake does not get absorbed by our body properly; thus resulting in iron deficiency issues like anemia and others. Vitamin C has a property that allows the iron to get adequately absorbed by your body. It helps to absorb the iron that your body intakes, be this in your diet or as a supplement.
Reduces the risk of heart diseases
Most heart diseases occur due to the intake of bad cholesterol. There are two kinds of cholesterol; HDL (High-Density Lipoproteins) and LDL (Low-Density Lipoproteins). LDL carries fat molecules, which is bad for your body. Studies have proved that consuming the right amount of Vitamin C helps to keep LDL levels in check, thus preventing the onset of cholesterol-related heart illness.
Repairs collagen
Vitamin C helps the body repair itself when we are injured, due to its role in producing collagen in the skin. It is known to repair the collagen that is a part of the connective tissues; thus helping your wounds to heal a tad faster than usual.
Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of Vitamin C, there are some cons too. Not everything about Vitamin C will be a benefit to your body, and taking vitamin C safely is what makes it beneficial
So, let’s have a look at them.
Excess use
Excess use of any nutrient or vitamin can be dangerous. Similarly, if you start consuming Vitamin C more than 2000mg on a regular basis, then it can be harmful. It can lead to severe cases of diarrhea, which may result in dehydration and kidney stones.
It doesn’t reduce asthma
If you are using Vitamin C to improve your asthma condition, it won’t be of any use. People who are suffering from it might have low Vitamin C levels in their blood. However, unfortunately taking a Vitamin C supplement won’t reduce the symptoms of asthma. So, if you are taking this to reduce these symptoms, you may end up causing yourself more harm than good.
It doesn’t speed up recovery
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are wondering whether having Vitamin C is of help or not. No doubt it improves your immunity system but doesn’t provide you a shield against the virus. It might lower the impact if you have contracted the virus, but you’ll still require the same amount of rest, recuperation, and time to recover.
Is Vitamin C really effective?
After the pandemic, many doctors have a divided opinion about whether Vitamin C is effective or not. Though they unanimously agree that Vitamin C has immune system improving properties, how much these work still remains in doubt. Although, some studies prove that Vitamin C is effective against the common cold or flu. People who have been taking Vitamin C have low impacts of the virus. But other studies reveal that Vitamin C doesn’t provide you the super immunity that helps you fight off all antigens.
Still, doctors, dieticians believe that a prescribed amount of Vitamin C would not harm. And will improve your immune system as it is a rich source of antioxidants.