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4 min read

What is Vitamin C? Is it actually a chemical?

What is vitamin c?

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions and is a key ingredient in immune boosting supplements. A water-soluble vitamin is not stored in the body, so you need to consume it more frequently. If you intake more than you need, your body will eliminate the excess through urine.1 

But here’s something that many people don’t know—Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a phytochemical (a.k.a) plant chemical produced by plants2. While it’s commonly known as a vitamin essential for human health, it’s primarily synthesized by plants and serves to protect them from environmental stressors. This means the Vitamin C we consume from fruits and vegetables has a deeper connection to nature’s defence system, and it contributes to our health in profound ways.

Vitamin C benefits: 

  1. Normal function of the immune system: Immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, organs, and the substances they make that.3 It protects your body from harmful substances, germs and cell changes that could make you ill.4 
  2. Normal collagen formation: Collagen is protein molecules made up of amino acids.5 This is very important for the normal function of blood vessels, bones, cartilage, gums and teeth. 
  3. Iron absorption: Iron is a mineral that the body needs for growth and development. It helps your body to make haemoglobin that carries oxygen in your body. Iron deficiency will lead you to feel unusually weak or breathless also called as feeling anemic.6 
  4. Normal function of the nervous system: The nervous system is the major controlling, regulatory, and communicating system in the body. It is the centre of all mental activity including thought, learning, and memory.7
  5. Normal energy-yielding metabolism: Metabolism refers to the whole sum of reactions that occur throughout the body within each cell and that provide the body with energy.8
  6. Normal psychological function: Psychological functions are classified into attention, memory, psychomotor, emotion, perception, thought, higher-level cognitive functions, language, calculation, sequencing complex movements, experience of self and time functions and unspecified functions.9 
  7. Protection of cells from oxidative stress: Oxidative stress is a phenomenon caused by an imbalance between production and accumulation of oxygen reactive species (ROS) in cells and tissues and the ability of a biological system to detoxify these reactive products.10
  8. Regeneration of vitamin E: Vitamin E helps maintain healthy skin and eyes while strengthening the body's natural defence against illness and infection.11 When Vitamin E neutralizes free radicals, it loses its antioxidant properties, but Vitamin C for skin plays a crucial role in regenerating its benefits.12 Using a Vitamin C Serum can further help enhance skin protection, promoting a radiant and youthful complexion.

How much vitamin c per day? 

Taking less than 1,000mg of vitamin C supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm.13

At BeatNaturally, we've taken things to the next level with our Immunity Blitzer, offering a powerful 200 mg of vitamin C in every serving. This powerful formula harnesses the exceptional benefits of Amla and Moringa, both renowned for their high vitamin C content—Amla providing 27.7 mg per 100 grams13 and Moringa offering 40 mg per 100 grams14—while also incorporating the additional support of Neem extracts. Supercharge your vitamin C foods intake with the best that nature has to offer! 

 

Disclaimer:

The information provided is solely for educational purposes. This content does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for any medical queries or concerns. BeatNaturally does not promote or suggest specific tests, doctors, procedures, viewpoints, or details mentioned in the content.

 

Sources:

  1. Vitamins and minerals - Food and nutrition | NHS inform 
  2. https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/chemical-ascorbic-acid
  3. Definition of immune system - NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms - NCI 
  4. In brief: How does the immune system work? - InformedHealth.org - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov) 
  5. Biochemistry, Collagen Synthesis - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov) 
  6. PI-IronEnglishW-07-6.indd (esht.nhs.uk) 
  7. Introduction to the Nervous System | SEER Training (cancer.gov) 
  8. Physiology, Metabolism - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov) 
  9. [Psychological function in aging] - PubMed (nih.gov) 
  10. Oxidative Stress: Harms and Benefits for Human Health - PMC (nih.gov) 
  11. Vitamins and minerals - Vitamin E - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 
  12. Vitamin E: foods, functions, how much do you need & more | Eufic 
  13. Vitamins and minerals - Vitamin C - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
  14. FoodData Central (usda.gov)
  15. FoodData Central (usda.gov)