4 posts tagged “vitamin c benefits”

Vitamins can be reckoned as the significant nutrient for healthy body. You can get it in either solid or liquid form. The benefits of liquid vitamins start as soon as they are consumed. It affects faster compared to the solid form of vitamins, that is, pill. It is mainly due to the fact that pills contain binders, fillers and preservatives that provide them the desired shape and longer skin life. You can enjoy the benefits of liquid vitamins for many vitamins such a vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B complex, vitamin K, and many others. Typically, liquid vitamins are available in a wide variety of tastes and also in the form of multi-vitamins. You can also get it in combination with other essential nutrients that turn it to be a wise source for nutritional choice.

At the surface level, the benefits of liquid vitamins are generally marked with the lack of comforts associated with the intake of vitamin pills. Many of us feel discomfort while taking vitamin pills because of few reasons such as taste, difficulty in swallowing and digesting. This is quite common in the case of elderly and children who intensely reveal their discomforts about swallowing vitamin pill. However, in most of the time, these two age groups largely depend on vitamins supplements. So they can receive the benefits of liquid vitamins in variety of flavors.

Requirement of Liquid Vitamins

Sometimes it is common to see that an individual in spite of staying on a healthy diet is not getting the sufficient amount of nutrient supplements as needed to maintain healthy life. Our body is incapable of functioning properly without some essential nutrients. In fact, we may not be alive without few indispensable substances. Vitamins are among those indispensable substances that we always need to stay us fit, healthy and vibrant all the time. Vitamins can be found in various forms and each form offers us extensive health benefits. Liquid vitamins are available in the form of multi-vitamins as well. The liquid multi-vitamins offer a whole host of health benefits, both at physiological and psychological levels.

Benefit Analysis

Several scientific studies advocate the benefits of liquid vitamins in terms of its effective absorption rate compared to vitamin pills. The estimated absorption rate for liquid vitamin is around 98-99%, whereas it is 10-20% for vitamin pills. It is due to the fact that liquid vitamins get absorbed into the cell and the blood stream itself. The studies claiming for the potential benefits of liquid vitamins also argue that liquid vitamins are gentler to our health compared to the pills. They also claim that a vitamin in solution form is a proven and truly effective formula for near total absorption in the blood stream.

But there are few scientific studies claiming for the adverse effects of liquid vitamins. They raise question about the efficacy of the true benefits of liquid vitamins. It seems that the nutrient qualities of liquid vitamins get intensely hampered when they come in contact with the stomach acids prior to their entry in the upper intestines where the primary absorption process occurs. Liquid vitamins are unable to carry enzymes in a feasible form for more than 24 hours – it sincerely declines their effectiveness in contrast with pills which are prepared with preservatives for attaining the job for carrying enzyme.

Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health. Read about Vitamin B12 Deficiency at Diet and Nutrition website.

Vitamin C is known as ascorbic acid as well. It offers a whole slew of benefits to our health. Vitamin C helps in maintaining the balance in ligaments, tendons and other adjacent tissues. It is commonly found in fruits and vegetables such as potatoes. Vitamin C has anti-oxidant property, so it helps us fighting with the symptoms of ageing. Not only that, due to its anti-oxidant property it helps us to preserve healthy blood cells from becoming collapsed from the toxic substances in the air that may even lead to cancer in some cases.

Vitamin C Functions

Vitamin C benefits us a lot. The best benefit offered by vitamin C is collagen formation. Collagen is essentially a protein substance that helps keeping all the cells together. Vitamin C aids in the formation of collagen. Without vitamin C, the formation of collagen is interrupted. Vitamin C is present and active within the cell wall where it aids in modifying pro-collagen into collagen.

Vitamins C benefits in the absorption of iron as well. Iron is essential to keep us healthy and vibrant. It maintains a healthy and clear skin, fresh complexion and healthy gums and teeth. It offers a healthy functioning for all glands and organs including adrenal and thyroid glands. It also aids in relieving all sort of stressors, both physical and psychological.

No research has shown any effective result in treating common cold symptoms by using vitamin C supplements.

Vitamin C Deficiency

So, we can easily understand that vitamin C is important to our health system. Vitamin C benefits in various aspects. It can aid our system both from inside as well as from outside also. A deficiency in vitamin C may result in soft gums, skin hemorrhages, collagen deformation, Achilles' heel, anemia, and slow healing. If your diet lacks vitamin C, you might find yourself older too fast. Vitamin C benefits in thyroid balance, so thyroid insufficiency is quite prevalent in such cases. Deficiency in vitamin C may also lead to weak immune system, so resistance to all diseases becomes very low. Toxic effect of drugs and environmental pollutants can affect human healthy greatly if you lack vitamin C. In worst cases, a deficiency in vitamin C may also lead to the development of scurvy. It is the development of bruised spots on the skin along with soft spongy gums as well as continuous bleeding from mucous membranes.

Availability

Mostly you can avail vitamin C from citrus foods such as oranges, limes and grapefruits. You can get vitamin C benefits from vegetables such as tomatoes, green peppers and potatoes. Apart from that, vitamin C is also available in various foods such as cantaloupes, honeydew melon, red peppers, strawberries, mandarin orange, mangoes and kiwifruits. However, the essential nutrient quality of vitamin C can easily be damaged during food processing and storages such as at the time of slicing, exposing to the air, cooking and boiling. The quality can also be harmed if the vegetables are submerged in the water for a long time. So, it is always better that you use fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables as much as possible to receive maximum vitamin C value. However, it is rare to see that people are lacking vitamin C in their diet. It is mainly because of the fact of plentiful availability of vitamin C in nature. So the quantity of supply is however enough for a daily requirement.
 
Precaution

Some people consider that vitamin C is water soluble. So, large amount of vitamin C may not produce harm. But it is not true. Vitamin C benefits only if you take a maximum of 2000mg per day. The most serious complication that occurs with the excessive dosage is diarrhea.

Vitamin C plays a significant role in healthy diet. However, excess intake is not at all recommended. If you take it in excessive amount, it may cause harm to health. A well-balanced diet may ensure healthy nutrients securing the sufficient amount of vitamin C. It helps in alleviating possible health hazards.

Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health. For more information read about Vitamin C Deficiency at Diet and Nutrition website.

Vitamins can be reckoned as the significant nutrient for healthy body. You can get it in either solid or liquid form. The benefits of liquid vitamins start as soon as they are consumed. It affects faster compared to the solid form of vitamins, that is, pill. It is mainly due to the fact that pills contain binders, fillers and preservatives that provide them the desired shape and longer skin life. You can enjoy the benefits of liquid vitamins for many vitamins such a vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B complex, vitamin K, and many others. Typically, liquid vitamins are available in a wide variety of tastes and also in the form of multi-vitamins. You can also get it in combination with other essential nutrients that turn it to be a wise source for nutritional choice.

At the surface level, the benefits of liquid vitamins are generally marked with the lack of comforts associated with the intake of vitamin pills. Many of us feel discomfort while taking vitamin pills because of few reasons such as taste, difficulty in swallowing and digesting. This is quite common in the case of elderly and children who intensely reveal their discomforts about swallowing vitamin pill. However, in most of the time, these two age groups largely depend on vitamins supplements. So they can receive the benefits of liquid vitamins in variety of flavors.

Requirement of Liquid Vitamins

Sometimes it is common to see that an individual in spite of staying on a healthy diet is not getting the sufficient amount of nutrient supplements as needed to maintain healthy life. Our body is incapable of functioning properly without some essential nutrients. In fact, we may not be alive without few indispensable substances. Vitamins are among those indispensable substances that we always need to stay us fit, healthy and vibrant all the time. Vitamins can be found in various forms and each form offers us extensive health benefits. Liquid vitamins are available in the form of multi-vitamins as well. The liquid multi-vitamins offer a whole host of health benefits, both at physiological and psychological levels.

Benefit Analysis

Several scientific studies advocate the benefits of liquid vitamins in terms of its effective absorption rate compared to vitamin pills. The estimated absorption rate for liquid vitamin is around 98-99%, whereas it is 10-20% for vitamin pills. It is due to the fact that liquid vitamins get absorbed into the cell and the blood stream itself. The studies claiming for the potential benefits of liquid vitamins also argue that liquid vitamins are gentler to our health compared to the pills. They also claim that a vitamin in solution form is a proven and truly effective formula for near total absorption in the blood stream.

But there are few scientific studies claiming for the adverse effects of liquid vitamins. They raise question about the efficacy of the true benefits of liquid vitamins. It seems that the nutrient qualities of liquid vitamins get intensely hampered when they come in contact with the stomach acids prior to their entry in the upper intestines where the primary absorption process occurs. Liquid vitamins are unable to carry enzymes in a feasible form for more than 24 hours – it sincerely declines their effectiveness in contrast with pills which are prepared with preservatives for attaining the job for carrying enzyme.

Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health. Read about Vitamin B12 Deficiency at Diet and Nutrition.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble, antioxidant vitamin. It is important  for the formation of collagen - a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels. Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of iron, and helps maintain capillaries, bones, and teeth.

Vitamin C is also known as, ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, the antiscorbutic vitamin, L-xyloascorbic acid. This vitamin is considered a cure-all for many diseases and problems - from cancer to common cold.

Yet, the interesting fact is that this miracle vitamin cannot be manufactured by the body, and needs to be ingested.

Benefits of Vitamin C -

1.    Vitamin C serves a predominantly protective role in the body.

2.    Vitamin C is required in the synthesis of collagen in connective tissue, steroid hormones, conversion of cholesterol to bile acids.

3.    It is a great antioxidant and helps protect the body against pollutants.

4.    It assists in the prevention of blood clotting and bruising, and strengthening the walls of the capillaries.

5.    As vitamin C is a biological reducing agent, it is also helps prevention of degenerative diseases - such as cataracts, certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

6.    Ascorbic acid promotes healthy cell development, proper calcium absorption, normal tissue growth and repair - such as healing of wounds and burns.

7.    Vitamin C is needed for healthy gums, to help protect against infection, helps reduce cholesterol level, high blood pressure and prevents arteriosclerosis.

What does deficiency of vitamin C lead to?

When there is a deficiency of vitamin C in the body, various problems can arise.
A shortage of vitamin C may result in hemorrhages under the skin and a tendency to bruise easily, poor wound healing, weakness, poor digestion, bleeding gums and loose teeth.
Low levels of vitamin C have been associated with a variety of conditions including hypertension, gallbladder disease, stroke, some cancers.

Edema (water retention) also takes place due to a shortage of vitamin C, along with painful joints, bronchial infection and colds.

Scurvy is the only disease that is treated with vitamin C.

Dosage

During the therapeutic use of this vitamin, the dosage is usually increased significantly, but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.

The average (Recommended dietary allowance) RDA is 60-80mg, per day.

For adolescents it is 80 mg, 75 mg for adults, 100 mg during pregnancy and 150 mg during lactation.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C is 60 to 90 milligrams per day. Men should consume more vitamin C than women and individuals who smoke cigarettes are encouraged to consume 35 more mg of vitamin C than average adults. This is because smoking depletes vitamin C levels in the body and is a catalyst for biological processes, which damage cells.
 
What are deficiency symptoms of vitamin C in a person?

Symptoms of scurvy, the vitamin C deficiency disease include –

1.    Bleeding gums (gingivitis) and skin discolouration due to ruptured blood vessels.

2.    Poor wound healing.

3.    Weak immune function, including vulnerability to cold and other infections.

Sources  of vitamin C -

Eating a variety of foods that contain vitamin C is the best way to get the required amount each day. Healthy individuals who eat a balanced diet do not need Vitamin C supplements.
 
Since the body does not produce vitamin C, it must be obtained from fruits and vegetables. Some excellent sources of vitamin C are oranges, olives, guava, green peppers, watermelon, papaya, strawberry, kiwi fruit, mango, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, and citrus juices or juices fortified with Vitamin C.

Amla or the Indian gooseberry is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C, whether fresh or the dried, powdered form.

Raw and cooked leafy greens (turnip, spinach), red and green peppers, fresh tomatoes, potatoes, pineapple are also rich sources of Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is sensitive to light, air, and heat, so it is best to eat fruits and vegetables raw, or minimally cooked in order to retain their full vitamin C content.

How to prepare and store foods to retain vitamin C -

Vitamin C can be lost from foods during preparation, cooking, or storage. To prevent loss of vitamin C:

•    Serve fruits and vegetables raw whenever possible.

•    Steam, boil, or cook foods in a very small amount of water, or microwave them for the shortest time possible.

•    Cook potatoes in their skins. Be sure to wash off the dirt on the outside of the potato.

•    Refrigerate prepared juices and store them for no more than two to three days.

•    Store cut and raw fruits, vegetables in an airtight container and refrigerate - do not soak or store in water. Vitamin C gets dissolved in the water.

Consumption of vitamin C rich foods in their fresh, raw form is the best way to maximize vitamin C intake.

For more helpful information visit Vitamin C Benefits and  Vitamins Chart