Vitamin C is a nutrient that is critical to preserving and strengthening the immune system and maintaining blood vessels, skin, and bones. Vitamin C is also water-soluble, and this means your body doesn’t store it very well. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables regularly will ensure that your body stays fortified with it, but there are also supplements that you can take. Vitamin C contains critical antioxidants that can reduce the risks of developing different health conditions.
Increases Collagen Production
Vitamin C helps your body produce more collagen, which is the most important and abundant protein in the human body. Collagen provides the structural support for connective tissues like tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, as well as the skin. Collagen is produced at lower levels as we get older, and this can manifest in the skin as fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. Vitamin C, in foods and supplement form, slows down the aging of the skin and wearing away of connective tissues.
Lowers the Risks of Heart Disease
Vitamin C has been proven to relax the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart, which has the effect of lowering blood pressure. It can also help lower bad cholesterol levels and increase good cholesterol levels. For those who have been diagnosed with heart disease, regularly taking vitamin C supplements is an option for self-therapy. A better option is to increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. These provide your body with a natural form of vitamin C that is more beneficial than the kind used for supplements.
Lessens Likelihood of Gout Attacks
Gout is a type of arthritis that causes an inflammation of the joints, but especially in the area at the base of the big toe. Those with this condition suffer swelling, inflammation, and extreme pain. Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid then crystallizes and is deposited in various joints of the body. Vitamin C has been proven in case studies to lower levels of uric acid in the blood. Taking a vitamin C supplement every day for thirty days in a row can reduce uric acid levels in the blood, so taking vitamin C supplements this way could potentially reduce the chances of a gout attack.