The relationship between vitamin C and immunity is so strong that many people have considered that the vitamin could prevent or even cure Covid-19. Unfortunately, there is no medicine to prevent or treat coronavirus, but having a strong immune system is essential to help fight the disease caused by the virus.
In this, vitamin C acquires points as it acts towards preserving and bolstering immunity. The vitamin weakens infections but just when there are enough supplies within the body-that is when they are in no excess amount, neither inadequate-and besides; it aids absorption of other imperative nutrients.
Do you understand the connection of vitamin C and immunity? Although its impact on your body may be positive if you are somewhat informed about it to avoid mixing up the meanings lately, but continue reading below for more updated information.
What is vitamin C?
Vitamin C, additionally called ascorbic acid, is part that may handiest be acquired through supplements and meals, since it isn’t synthesized through the frame. To attain this, it’s far essential to eat it at good enough tiers, to the point of meeting the important needs, without extra.
What is diet C for?
Vitamin C’s main motion is to defend and reinforce the immune gadget, greater specially within the formation of bone, muscle, blood vessel and cartilage tissue. It is not any marvel that it’s far one of the first-rate-regarded vitamins.
Furthermore, because of its antioxidant ability, nutrition C also protects the cells of the human body against the action of loose radicals — together with sun rays, pollution, cigarettes, alcohol, diseases, and so forth. — that could affect the nice of lifestyles, appearance of the skin and hair, further to contributing to the emergence of health problems. Among these, we are able to mention:
- anemia;
- fatigue and lack of energy;
- low immunity;
- bleeding gums;
- stress and bad mood;
- difficulty in skin healing;
- etc.
What is the relationship between vitamin C and immunity?
As you can see, a strong immune system usually involves an organism that has adequate levels of nutrients, especially vitamin C, to ensure its strengthening and maintenance. It is for reasons like these that its intake is 100 times more recommended than that of other vitamins.
That is, the 45mg to 200mg of vitamin C that healthy adults are supposed to take in every day will aid the immune system and decrease the risk of chronic and degenerative diseases, like scurvy and cardiovascular problems.
Similarly, this nutrient alleviates flu and cold symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion, just like anti-allergy medications.
Therefore, because the coronavirus leads to respiratory infection, there are studies that have shown that using vitamin C will help in minimizing the side effects caused by the disease, although it cannot prevent infection or transmission.
Proof of the power of vitamin C in protecting immunity is that the Western populations due to a much lower consumption of foods that serve as sources for this nutrient habitually take vitamins as supplements just to enjoy these benefits and therefore prevent diseases as studies show.
What are the benefits of daily consumption of vitamin C?
As we mentioned, there is an ideal amount of vitamin C, which varies according to age and other health conditions. After all, it offers countless health benefits. Check it out!
Increased leukocyte production
Leukocytes are white blood cells responsible for defending the body against allergies, infections and other microorganisms that cause diseases. Have you ever noticed that when you don’t wash your hands properly, you end up carrying harmful germs and bacteria into your body? Leukocytes are responsible for blocking them and protecting your health.
Increased antibody levels
Antibodies are cells that act as a protection mechanism inside the immune machine to save you viruses and bacteria from harming our bodies. In this example, their movement could be very specific: each antibody fights against a particular invader.
Improved phagocytosis
Phagocytosis is a herbal procedure executed in the frame that involves the engulfment of debris by using the body’s protection cells, with the purpose of preventing and combating infections. Thus, optimizing phagocytosis is beneficial for immunity.
Stimulates neutrophil migration
Neutrophils act to protect the frame with the aid of growing their numbers inside the occasion of infections or infection. Therefore, daily consumption of vitamin C stimulates the migration of those cells, which want to transport and multiply.
Where can you find vitamin C?
As mentioned, vitamin C is not produced in the body, but must be absorbed through supplements and food. Supplements may be recommended by doctors to be taken with food if the body needs larger doses quickly. In any case, here are the main sources of this nutrient:
- acerola;
- papaya;
- kiwi;
- orange;
- strawberry;
- papaya;
- tomato juice;
- lemon;
- passion fruit;
- sleeve.
In autumn and winter, periods when respiratory viruses become more common, fruits that are sources of vitamin C become even more present in orchards, since this is the season that favors citrus fruits. Therefore, it is worth eating these foods directly or even serving them with others, such as oranges with feijoada, to aid in the absorption of iron.
As for taking supplements, remember that this can only be done with medical advice to avoid overloading the body with vitamin C. Otherwise, instead of serving as a reserve, it will contribute to the formation of kidney and gastrointestinal problems.