Did you know that the 4th of April is National Vitamin C Day? Why is vitamin C important? According to the NHS, this mighty vitamin helps protect skin cells and keeps them healthy. Maintains health skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage. It also helps with wound healing. If you don’t get enough vitamin C this can cause scurvy, to read more about scurvy click here.
Sources of vitamin C
Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables, in particular:
- Citrus fruits
- Peppers
- Strawberries
- Blackcurrants
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Potatoes
Recipes that are jam packed with vitamin C
Delicious have got a great list of vitamin C packed meals, such as:
- Chicken broth with kale, quinoa and preserved lemon.
- Orange Vanilla and strawberry juice
- Heirloom tomato, basil and sheep’s yogurt salad
Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency/ scurvy include
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Low mood
- Irritability
- Muscle/joint pain
- Swollen/bleeding gyms
- Nosebleeds
- Blue/red spots on the skin
- Bruising easily
- Slow healing wounds
Vitamin C skincare
Vitamin C is also a buzz ingredient in skincare, in particular vitamin c creams. What does vitamin C do for the skin? According to a recent study, using vitamin C every day for three months improved the appearance of wrinkles on the face and neck. Another study found that vitamin C combined with other ingredients can reduce redness and protect the skin from sun damage. To read more about these studies click here.
Supplements
Supplements are a great way to incorporate vitamin C in your diet, but its important to remember that they aren’t a substitute for a balanced healthy lifestyle.
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