Beauty Tips Vitamin C Benefits
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Aug
20
Vitamin C Benefits
Vitamin C Benefits
Vitamin C is one of the most widely used skin care ingredients. The variety of skin rejuvenation / anti-wrinkle products with vitamin C is staggering. Do these products work? Do their claims have any substance? The situation is a little complicated. On one hand, vitamin C does possess definite, scientifically validated merits for wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. On the other hand, many vitamin C products do not work.
Potentially, vitamin C can benefit skin in two important ways. Firstly, vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a key structural protein of the skin. Adding vitamin C to a culture of skin cells (fibroblasts) dramatically increases the synthesis of collagen. Secondly, vitamin C is an antioxidant and can help reduce skin damage caused by free radicals. So, when vitamin C is properly delivered into skin cells, there is a good chance to reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture.
Vitamin C functions as an anti-inflammatory, and helps the body fight inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue. A multitude of other conditions may be improved vitamin C, including angina, bronchitis, bruises, canker sores, constipation, diabetes, eyestrain, gingivitis, glaucoma, hangover, infertility, joint pain, rashes, rosacea, shingles, sore throat, sprains, sunburn, and yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and scurvy (a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency). Because vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, it is also useful in treating iron deficiency and anemia
If you smoke, have an existing medical condition, or suffer from a skin disorder, you may need a higher dosage of vitamin C.
If you are a fan of fruits and vegetables, you may be getting the right amount of vitamin C for a healthy body. Check with your doctor or nutritionist to be sure you get the appropriate daily intake of vitamin C.
Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits and juices, cantaloupe, strawberries, kiwi, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, and green peppers.
Vitamin C can be found in many skincare products; however, the level of effectiveness can vary. If you are using a vitamin C cream, keep in mind that it is difficult for your skin to absorb vitamin C without the help of other chemical agents. Check with your dermatologist or physician to decide on the most effective combination of treatments.
Vitamin C also supplies important nutrition for your eyes, as it may play a role in protecting you against glaucoma and other eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration.
According to recent research, vitamin C may offer health benefits in these areas:
1. Stress. "A recent meta-analysis showed vitamin C was beneficial to individuals whose immune system was weakened due to stress -- a condition which is very common in our society," . And, he adds, "because vitamin C is one of the nutrients sensitive to stress, and [is] the first nutrient to be depleted in alcoholics, smokers, and obese individuals, it makes it an ideal marker for overall health."
2. Colds. When it comes to the common cold, vitamin C may not be a cure. But studies show that it can help prevent more serious complications. "There is good evidence taking vitamin C for colds and flu can reduce the risk of developing further complications, such as pneumonia and lung infections," .
3. Stroke. A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that those with the highest concentrations of vitamin C in their blood were associated with 42% lower stroke risk than those with the lowest concentrations. The reasons for this are not completely clear. But what is clear is that people who eat plenty of fruits and vegetables have higher blood levels of vitamin C.
Following are Vitamin C Sources
Eat more broccoli. A 1/2-cup serving provides 45 mg of vitamin C.
Add a slice of tomato to your sandwiches. A small tomato provides 25 mg of vitamin C.
Slice up a papaya or mango for dessert. Half a medium papaya or mango provides 95 mg of vitamin C.
Think peppers! Red, yellow, and orange peppers have about twice the vitamin C of green peppers.
More obscure vegetables, like kohlrabi and jicama, provide about 45 mg of vitamin C per half cup. Just grate each into a green salad.
Believe it or not, potatoes contain vitamin C, too! A small baked potato has 25 mg.
Kiwi fruit, the fuzzy little brown fruit with the deep green interior, has about 55 mg of vitamin C.
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