We know that our food is supposed to contain vital nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. So let us consider for a few minutes what we may be overlooking in our daily routine: Vitamin Power – Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid!
Perhaps the vitamin most thought of is Vitamin C. Next to vitamin C in the dictionary of our minds, we imagine an orange. That is because it is the fruit more readily identified as high in Vitamin C.
However, at least five or six other natural foods have a higher Vitamin C concentration than oranges. So let’s have a look at the nutritional benefits of these excellent source of Vitamin C foods:
1) Oranges
Citrus fruits like Oranges contain a high amounts of vitamin C content. It is an average of 59 mg. of Vitamin C per 100g serving. And that is if only the orange rind is consumed, as it’s the source of most nutritional content in oranges. You can also have a daily serving of orange juice as a substitute.
So how about some “Bell Peppers?” The amount of Vitamin C depends on the color. Yellow peppers provide the most with 184mg, (three times the amount in oranges”) per 100-gram serving. Bell peppers are more versatile and easier to include in your daily routine.
2) Guavas! – Potent Sources of Vitamin C!
A hidden treasure in the world of Vitamin C are Guavas. This tropical fruit is loaded with lots of other nutrients as well. Depending on the variety, guavas can provide as much as 228mg per 100g serving. That is about four times the amount in oranges.
3) Herbs
Thyme and parsley, are now known to be the best Vitamin C providers. These fresh or dried herbs are packed with vitamins and other health benefits and can be used in almost any soup, stew, or salad.
- Thyme provides the most Vitamin C of any herb with 160mg per 100-gram serving.
- Parsley offers 133 milligrams of vitamin C per 100-gram serving.
4) Greens
- Dark leafy greens like kale and mustard greens,also pack a punch of this essentialVitamin C. Raw kale provides the most with 120mg per 100-gram serving. Again juicing your kale is a convenient way to add it to your routine, but it can be used in various ways such as salads, stir-fries, soups, or chips.
- Broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts are also more potent inVitamin Cthan oranges. For example, broccoli provides 89 mg in a 100 g serving.
5) Moringa
Let’s introduce you to MORINGA. A plant grown mostly in Africa and Asia, that is the most perfect food for nutritional content anywhere. It contains seven times the Vitamin C of oranges and many other vitamins, minerals, etc.
Now that we know the best Vitamin C rich food sources, let us have a look at why we need it and what are its essential health benefits:
1) Strengthens the immune system
Most people know that Vitamin C strengthens the immune system. After all, that is what we take when getting a cold or trying to get rid of a cold. In addition, we take it when our allergies start to kick in and strengthen us after a bout of illness. So do not be fooled into thinking that it is only needed to combat colds and nasal allergies.
By strengthening the immune system, it also helps to prevent those cancer cells from forming and/or thriving. A strong immune function can also aid in destroying cancer cells even after they are formed. Vitamin C is also necessary for the repair of body tissues.
2) Prevents heavy metal accumulation
Vitamin C also helps in preventing heavy metals from accumulating in our bodies. So yes, it does eradicate heavy metal formation. They all come down to its ability to detoxify. Because of this property, It is a powerful anti-oxidant, and helps to protect our cells from oxidative stress, which is basically damaging to the cell structure. That is why it is used in cases of lead poisoning and other cases where heavy metal detoxification is necessary.
3) Helps in the production of neurotransmitters
Are you familiar with the term “neuro transmitters”? As it suggests, they are the chemicals that transmit signals between neurons ( the building blocks of our nerves and nervous system). Vitamin C regulates the production of these chemicals that serve such a vital role. Therefore, it is shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disease and diabetes.
So just imagine for a moment a nervous system that has been allowed to go awry; or one with overactive neurotransmitters. Forget not, that the nervous system also sends signals to the brain and indeed regulates almost all activity in organs and limbs.
So let your brain wonder for a moment about the kinds of disorders that may be attributed to nervous system irregularities. And then pledge to yourself that you will be the good steward and make sure you give your body the amount it needs!
4) Regulates the production of adrenaline
Vitamin C is essential for HEALTHY ADRENAL GLANDS
What are those? Tiny glands that sit on top of your kidneys, that regulate the production of adrenalin, which regulates various stress factors, that affect too many things in your body!
To understand the importance of this function, you would have to understand the role of cortisol, adrenalin, estrogen, and testosterone. They modulate the functioning of every tissue, organ, and gland in your body to maintain a stable physiological balance, during stress and keep you alive. It may be good to note that stress is almost always ongoing in some form or another. They also have important effects on the way you think and feel.
Are you beginning to understand the importance of Vitamin C to good health?
5) Detoxifies the liver
Vitamin C helps detoxify the liver. Your liver is like the “quality control “server for everything that goes into your body. It serves multiple tasks of eliminating toxins, purifying, balancing, and neutralizing, all at once!
A toxic liver can be disastrous in many ways. An unhealthy liver is an unhealthy body and you are as aged as the health of your liver. How about at least giving it the vitamin C it needs to help keep itself clean and in good working order.
6) Helps fight inflammation
Vitamin C is an excellent anti-inflammatory. It helps reduce inflammation, especially in cases where an allergy causes inflammation to form internally. It aids in the absorption of iron and helps the body process other nutrients that would otherwise not be made applicable.
Treat your body right, and it will return the favor. Get your daily Vitamin C intake, not only when you have a cold. It’s not difficult to do.
BOTTOM LINE
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient needed for many bodily systems to work optimally. It helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Benefits of vitamin C are numerous, therefore aim to consume plenty of Vitamin C rich sources to help prevent disease and boost immunity.
