Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that can be found in various vegetables and fruits very easily. Nutritional supplements are also available in the form of tablets, drinks mix and capsules if vitamin C. But do we really know the effects of vitamin C on our body? Let’s understand the benefits of Vitamin C on our skin, hair and health.
What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin which is also known as ascorbic acid or L- ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is a very efficient nutrient, necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system and several enzymes. Vitamin C helps in healing connective tissue and wounds. It is also essential for the treatment of scurvy, a disease caused by the deficiency of Vitamin C.
Benefits Of Vitamin C For Skin
Here are some of the benefits of Vitamin C and its serum for face and Skincare you must know.
Also Read : What Makes Vitamin C The Perfect Ingredient For Your Skin!
1. Helps In Treating Sunburns
Being an antioxidant, vitamin C promotes collagen production and helps in treating sunburns. You can consume vitamin C or can apply vitamin C serum on the affected area for the benefits. Remember, vitamin C should be used in addition to sunscreen and not as its replacement. Vitamin C also helps in treating erythema, superficial reddening of the skin due to UVB.
2. Prevents Skin Discolouration
Photochemical reactions in DNA can lead to skin discolouration, tumor and various types of skin cancer. Vitamin C inhibits the production of pyridine that is primarily responsible for melanomas (the serious type of skin cancer) in humans. It lightens freckles and age spots and makes skin more cheerful.
3. Improves Skin Texture
Collagen helps in building a structure for blood vessels. The blood vessels carry oxygen and nutrients to keep the body and skin healthy. Lack of these nutrients makes the skin rough and dry. Creams with vitamin C content improves the texture of the skin. Vitamin C promotes the formation of elastin which thickens and protects the skin cell that increases blood circulation in the skin.
4. Treats Eczema
Vitamin C and zinc are very helpful in treating the condition of Eczema. Consuming 500-1000 mg of Vitamin C and 16 mg of zinc every day will help you to cure Eczema really fast.
5. Enhances Collagen Production
Vitamin C is essential in the production of hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine which are important to combine molecules that produce collagen that helps in toning and firming of the skin. Collagen deficiency makes the skin dull. Consumption of vitamin C promotes collagen production, rejuvenates the skin and also prevents ageing.
Benefits Of Vitamin C For Hair
1. Fights Against Dandruff
Dandruff and dry skin damaged hair follicle that leads to improper hair growth. Vitamin C fights against bacteria that causes dandruff. It removes the dead hair follicles and promotes the growth of new hair. Its antiviral properties also help in fighting against the dry and itchy scalp.
Also Read : Effective Home Remedies And Tips For Dandruff Control
2. Benefits Of Vitamin C For Hair Growth
Vitamin C deficiency can cause many hair-related problems such as dry hair and split ends. These problems do not allow hair to grow properly and prevent the growth of new hair. Antioxidants present in vitamin C fights against the free radicles and reduces their effects that hinder hair growth. One should consume proper of Vitamin C in order to gain healthy and long hair.
3. Helps In Retaining Moisture In Hair
Multiple hydroxyl groups present in vitamin C make it hygroscopic that’s why it attracts water. Due to this property, vitamin C acts as a great moisturizer for hair in hair products such as Conditioners.
4. Helps In Hair Retention
Free radicles combine with natural melanin and synthetic die in the cortex of the hair and bleach the color of hair by making them weak. Vitamin C fights against free radicles and maintains the color of hair and also strengthens them.
5. Vitamin C Possess Anti-Breakage Properties
Vitamin C is used in a variety of Conditioners and hair care products due to its antioxidant properties. Free radicle causes damage, breakage and split ends of hair. Vitamin C treats the damage and makes hair healthy and shiny.
Benefits Of Vitamin C For Health
Vitamin C is linked to many health benefits. From regulating blood pressure and maintaining heart health to immunity development, vitamin C plays a vital role. There are many benefits of consuming the proper amount of vitamin C during pregnancy as well, as it helps in collagen production that is a part of cartilage, bones, skin and tendons.
After skin and hair care benefits, it’s time to have a look at some of the impressive health benefits of vitamin C.
1. Blood Pressure
People with high blood pressure have higher risks of cardiovascular diseases. Large doses of vitamin C can be used to lower blood pressure. Diuretic properties of Vitamin C makes the kidney to remove more water and sodium from the body that reduces the pressure of blood vessels. Supply of nitric oxide, that relaxes the blood vessels is also protected by vitamin C. Consuming supplements of vitamin C can also help to lower the blood pressure. Taking a dose of 550mg per day can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 4 and 1.5 points respectively. According to one Italian study, vitamin C also promotes the dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation) that decrease blood prevents vasoconstriction.
2. Promotes Healthy Heart
According to some American studies, Vitamin C helps in lowering the rate of heart disease. Many pieces of research have proved that Vitamin C helps in maintaining a normal heart rate.
Vitamin C helps in lowering the level of blood pressure and maintains the flexibility of arteries. Vitamin C additionally aids in lowering serum cholesterol levels and this could help in averting coronary heart disease.
3. Helps In Boosting Immunity
The deficiency of Vitamin C lowers the body's resistance against certain pathogens. According to American studies, vitamin C vitalizes the immune system by increasing the strength and protection of the organism. In the inclusion of protecting the immune system, vitamin C lowers the severity of allergies and fights against infection. It enhances T-cell proliferation in reaction to the infection. Vitamin C can also accelerate healing processes. It improves collagen production that enhances the wound healing process. Vitamin C can decrease the duration of the common cold according to some researches. It can also help in treating Asthma, however, further study is required.
Also Read : How to Boost Immune System Naturally - Home Remedies
5. Regulates Blood Sugar
Constant intake of supplementary vitamin C regulates blood sugar level in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. Vitamin C also prevents damage caused by diabetes in blood vessels. Japanese studies state that the treatment of vitamin C controls diabetes, it stimulates the mechanism of insulin and therefore, helps in the treatment. Vitamin C also reduces fasting blood glucose in people suffering from type2 diabetes.
6. Prevents Scurvy
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for the proper functioning of the body. People who don’t consume the required amount of vitamin C can suffer from scurvy. Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables and one can easily complete the demand by eating a sufficiently balanced diet containing these fruits and vegetables. You can also have a vitamin C supplement to treat and prevent scurvy.
7. Helps In Boosting Energy
Vitamin C can also be used to enhance the energy level in the body. Vitamin C helps in pushing the fatigue through the pain barrier. In one of the Korean studies, it was found that Vitamin C had outstandingly lowered fatigue related to work in the employees. Also, Vitamin C is required for the production of carnitine, which is a fatty acid molecule that allows the burning of fat through exercise. Lack of Vitamin C produces less carnitine that leads to more fatigue during weight loss exercises. Vitamin C lowers the fatigue level and makes it easy for you to perform exercises.
8. Helps In Preventing Iron Deficiency
Iron is an essential nutrient for the formation of red blood cells and for the circulation of oxygen to all the parts of the body. Vitamin C can improve the absorption of iron in the body. Vitamin C allows easy absorption of iron from plant sources by converting them into a simpler form. Consuming 100 mg of Vitamin C can increase your iron absorption by up to 67%. When a study was conducted among 65 children with mild iron deficiency, who were treated with vitamin C supplements, It was found that vitamin C alone controlled anaemia in the kids. That means vitamin C also reduces the risks of anaemia in people prone to iron deficiency. If you have a low iron level in the body, start consuming vitamin C to aid the condition.
9. Helps In Treatment Of Osteoarthritis
As per the arthritis foundation, Vitamin C aids in preventing a few forms of arthritis. But the consumption of a lot of vitamin C leads to worsening of the case by any form, so it is necessary to have a solution. The conclusion is, taking an appropriate dose of Vitamin C aids in the prevention of inflammatory arthritis and keeps healthy joints with osteoarthritis. Studies have proved that people having a lower level of vitamin C would be three times more likely to develop inflammatory arthritis. As informed earlier, taking an appropriate amount of dosage is important. Dietary intake of vitamin C according to RDA recommendation is 90 milligrams per day for men and 75 milligrams for women) if taken above this range can make the case worse.
10. Helps In Improving Eye Health
Attestation recommends that the intake of vitamin C lowers the chances of cataract. Vitamin C if taken with other important nutrients, aids in averting age-related macular degeneration and visual acuity loss. Even the people who intake sufficient vitamin C have 20% lower risks of cataract. Vitamin C opposes oxidative stress by preventing the free radical from causing molecular damage to the lens tissue in the eye. Vitamin C also extends the proper functioning of retinal cells, ensures the health of blood vessels and also aids in the regeneration of vitamin E in the eye that promotes eye health. Regular consumption of vitamin C also helps in the treatment of uveitis, inflammation of the middle layer of the eye known as the uvea.
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