Vitamin C is often touted as the king of vitamins. Actually, what are the benefits of vitamin C for the body? Vitamin C is a type of vitamin that is popular with the public. Whether in the form of supplement tablets or fortification in food and drinks, vitamin C is very familiar in our lives.
Are you one of those people who diligently consume vitamin C regularly? If yes, then you should feel happy because the benefits of vitamin C are so many. Check out some of the reasons why you need vitamin C below:
1. Ward off free radicals
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can ward off free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause structural damage to cells in the body.
The antioxidants in vitamin C function as stabilizers of these molecules, thereby preventing them from damaging cell structures.
With its ability to ward off free radicals, vitamin C is useful for maintaining various types of cells in the body. One of the further effects of this benefit is, for example, preventing premature aging.
2. Increase Immunity
Maybe you have often heard about the benefits of vitamin C. Because it functions as an antioxidant, vitamin C can help increase the body’s resistance by warding off free radicals that can damage the immune system.
In addition, this vitamin can produce interferon, a protein that protects cells from attacks by viruses that enter the body.
3. Control Diabetes
A study states that vitamin C can be useful for preventing organ damage that occurs in diabetes sufferers.
Apart from that, there are also other studies that have found that vitamin C has the potential to control blood sugar.
However, further studies are still needed to confirm this.
4. Maintains heart health
According to studies, vitamin C supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.
Vitamin C is said to reduce several risk factors for heart disease, such as high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides.
5. Prevents Cancer
Vitamin C can reduce cell DNA damage, which is the initial process of cancer. This vitamin can also reduce inflammation which allows malignant cells to develop into dangerous tumors.
Not only that, the function of vitamin C for the body is that it can reduce organ damage due to the side effects of chemotherapy. Very extraordinary, right?
6. Forms Collagen
Vitamin C plays a role in the formation of collagen, a protein found in abundance in skin, bones and cartilage.
Thus, vitamin C is useful for making skin more elastic, preventing premature aging, and making bones stronger.
7. Lowers Blood Pressure
There are studies that say that regular consumption of vitamin C is associated with reduced systolic blood pressure levels.
This experimental research on animals demonstrated that vitamin C helps relax blood vessels, making it beneficial for lowering blood pressure.
8. Prevents Iron Deficiency in the Body
Another use of vitamin C is to help the absorption of iron in food. For people who are at risk of iron deficiency, for example, pregnant women, consuming vitamin C should not be forgotten in addition to consuming iron supplementation.
That way, iron absorption can be optimal and avoid iron deficiency anemia.
9. Reduces the risk of gout
A study involving 1,387 men found that people who took vitamin C supplementation had lower uric acid levels.
Another study involving 46,994 men over 20 years also found a lower risk of gout ( joint pain due to gout) in people who regularly took vitamin C supplementation.
Who would have thought, this vitamin, which is so familiar with everyday life, actually has a multitude of benefits? There is no doubt about the function of vitamin C for the body. Therefore, from now on, make sure you consume enough vitamin C, okay?
You can meet your daily vitamin C needs by consuming various types of fruits and vegetables. To make it easier, you can also, you know, take supplements with high vitamin C content.