Why We Need Vitamin C

Vitamin C is considered to be the "best" nutrients for the body. Also called ascorbic acid, it can help protect us against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular diseases, prenatal health conditions, and eye disease.

Though the recommended dietary allowance in the United States for vitamin C is between 76 to 90 milligrams per day for adults, various researchers have suggested that, to acheive the potential health benefits that the vitamin has to offer, people should take approximately 500 milligrams per day. This can be done by taking a vitamin C dietary supplement or by eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

Foods and juices containing plenty of vitamin C include, but are not limited to, orange juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, oranges, kiwi, broccoli, peppers, peas and sweet potatoes. If you are looking for ways to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet, you can follow a few of these creative tips.

First, when preparing soups you can easily add purred vegetables, making richer in vitamins. Second, instead of snacking on unhealthy foods like potato chips and cookies, you should munch of fruits and vegetables. To follow through with on this, you should prepare them ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator. Therefore, when you are hungry between meals you can just open the fridge and start eating. Third, when preparing sandwiches also add lettuce tomatoes and other vegetables. Fourth, if you enjoy cereal, then why not add some fruit to make it healthier. And lastly, try to drink either fruit or vegetable juice one a day. All of these tips will help you increase your daily intake of the "best" vitamin.

In regards to its health benefits, research has demonstrated that vitamin C has the potential to help us with certain health conditions. For example, experts has shown that this vitamin has benefitted people whose immune system was weakened as a result of stress. Vitamin C is also helpful in decreasing the risk of common colds developing into more serious complications, such a pneumonia. Additionally, also with decreasing inflammation and lowering our risk of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer, taking enough amounts of the vitamin can reducing the chances of our skin becoming dry and wrinkled as we get older in age.

Consuming appropriate amount of this vitamin is also helpful in the growth and development of our body tissues, assists in the absorption of iron and healing wounds, cuts, and various injuries, and helps maintaining the health of our bones and teeth.

So now that you know about all the benefits of vitamin C, what's stopping you from getting started in preparing healthier meals and snacks for you and your family?

Maria Gonzales, a health blogger interested in a wide range of diseases and conditions, including health 2.0, nutricion, dieta saludable, colesterol, and more.