Spotlight on Vitamin C

If you have followed my blogs or social media for any period of time, you will already know that I am obsessed with Vitamin C. I take a Vitamin C supplement every day and use a Vitamin C serum on my skin. Vitamin C is AMAZING, and the reality is that we could not survive without it.

Five Impressive Benefits of Vitamin C

1️⃣ Skin Health

Vitamin C supports collagen production to keep the skin smooth and elastic. Collagen production declines with age, so adequate Vitamin C becomes increasingly more important. Topical Vitamin C is a science-backed, dermatologist-favorite ingredient that may help slow early skin aging, prevent sun damage, and improve the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and acne.

2️⃣ Bone Strength

For the same reason that Vitamin C benefits the skin, it also benefits the bones. Collagen provides elasticity to the protein matrix of bones, supporting their resilience against fracture.

3️⃣ Immune Function

This is one of Vitamin C’s most famous functions. It supports white blood cell production, which is important for fending off infections. Vitamin C also helps stabilize mast cells, reducing histamine release in allergy sufferers.

4️⃣ Antioxidant Defense

Vitamin C is an important water-soluble antioxidant, combating the effects of free radicals and oxidative stress. Its role as an antioxidant makes it helpful for anti-aging, immune support, and more.

5️⃣ Stress Response

Vitamin C is more rapidly consumed during the stress response. Humans are one of the very few mammals who have lost the ability to synthesize Vitamin C, so we have a higher demand when our bodies experience stress. I often recommend that patients increase their Vitamin C intake during illness, and also during periods of higher stress.

Vitamin C is present in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. It is water-soluble, which means we do not store it for long periods of time (and also makes it difficult to overdose). Your body will only absorb so much Vitamin C at a time, so it’s best to divide doses during the day. When supplementing, I recommend using a buffered form of Vitamin C for less digestive upset - but beware - high doses of Vitamin C, even in a buffered form, may cause diarrhea.

I recommend supplements for any person depending on their unique situation, lab tests, and goals. Uncovering the root cause of chronic inflammation is a highly individualized process. As a board-certified Integrative & Functional Medicine physician, I can help you “think outside of the box and dig deeper with a variety of laboratory testing to help uncover the underlying root causes of inflammation in your body and create a plan personalized for you that goes beyond the prescription pad to incorporate diet/lifestyle change, nutritional supplements, holistic therapies, health coaching and more! Contact us to get started!