When thinking about vitamin C, you probably just pictured a glass of orange juice or the common-cold prevention medicine. What you may not know is that an orange doesn’t even meet the recommended daily intake percentage and the idea that an “Emergen-C” pack can prevent a cold is an unproven claim.
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, meaning your body can’t produce it on its own. Your food choices serve as the best source to meet your daily recommended intake: 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. Vitamin C is something we're familiar with, but do you know the specifics? Read on to learn the benefits offered by getting your daily dose.
Benefits of Vitamin C
- Strong Antioxidant
With a high consumption of vitamin C, you can increase your blood antioxidant levels which inevitably will strengthen your body’s natural defenses. With the help of vitamin C, your body will be more equipped to combat inflammation, lowering your risk for chronic diseases, like high blood pressure and dementia.
- Helps Prevent Iron Deficiencies
Iron from non-meat sources are more difficult for the body to absorb. Having enough vitamin C can actually help in converting non-meat iron into a form that is easier to absorb. This information is especially helpful for those who live a plant-based lifestyle as there is a higher concern for iron deficiencies.
- Boosts Immunity
Vitamin C plays a major role in the effectiveness of the immune system. White blood cells, which are linked to your skin’s defense system, can function better with the extra boost offered by vitamin C. With summer in full swing, the time to amp up your vitamin C couldn’t be greater as this powerful vitamin has been linked with repairing sunburn-induced skin damage. If the summer sun kisses you extra hard, amp up your vitamin C!
So with all the benefits laid out, you might be wondering how to increase your daily intake of vitamin C? Though the obvious option seems like oranges, or other citrus fruits, you may be surprised to know bell peppers pack quite the punch. One yellow bell pepper has 341 mg of vitamin C. DEFINE foods loves bell peppers as they add crunch, flavor, and a host of healthful benefits with very little calories. We include them in our Thai Chili Salad Rolls and in our Raw Pad Thai Salad. Another great source of vitamin C is kale. One cup of kale provides 134% of your daily dose of vitamin C. Our Kale + Citrus Tahini Salad and our Kale + Chive Vinaigrette Salad will provide you with enough vitamin C to have your skin glowing and immune system thriving.
All of our meals offer a wide range of benefits, and now that you know how important vitamin C can be, try out one of our Meal Cleanse Programs to start experiencing your greatest potential.