Recharge Your Immune System with Vitamin C Supplements

Struggle for existence and survival of the fittest is a saying prevalent from time immemorial.

This saying has become more relevant in these times of polluted environment. The atmosphere is rampant with infections including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses in the environment. The immune system is very important for us to survive it performs various functions that protect the human body. It guards against infections. It can also recognize and destroy abnormal cells that originate from host tissues.

The immune system can be broadly divided into 3 general functional divisions:

• the acquired (also called adaptive or specific) immune system,
• the innate or natural immune system,
• passive or borrowed immune system, which includes a newborn’s receiving antibodies from the mother through the placenta before birth and in breast milk after birth.

The immune system functions by:

• eliminating pathogens and
• tolerating non-threatening sources of antigens.
• maintaining a memory of immunological encounters.

Factors harmful to the Immune System

It has been found that certain factors may influence the immune system negatively. These factors may be related to unavoidable medical conditions, chronic stress, and lack of sleep, as well as pharmacological agents like corticosteroids, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, and immune suppressants used to treat autoimmune disorders, immune-mediated disease, and conditions in transplant patients. Investigators have discovered that certain factors may influence the immune system, including medical conditions, chronic stress, and lack of sleep, as well as pharmacological agents like corticosteroids, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, and immune suppressants used to treat autoimmune disorders and diseases which are the result of a bad or weak immunity system eg Chronic insomnia.

The immune system can also be affected by the aging process and Vitamin C deficiency results in impaired immunity and higher susceptibility to infections.

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin well known for its role in promoting a healthy immune system. As the body cannot make vitamin C by itself, it has to be absorbed or got from our daily food. The importance of Vitamin C cannot be ignored as it is instrumental in the growth and repair of tissue all over the body. Vitamin C not only helps heal wounds but also works towards the repair and maintenance of, teeth, bones, skin, and cartilage. Vitamin C is one of the biggest immune system boosters of all.

Foods rich in vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, kale, and broccoli. Daily intake of vitamin C is essential for good health because your body doesn’t produce or store it.

Other benefits of Vitamin C include

1. As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights free radicals in the body which may help prevent or delay certain cancers and heart diseases, and promote healthy aging. Strong Antioxidant that May Reduce the Risk of Chronic Diseases Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that can strengthen the body’s natural defenses and can boost blood antioxidant levels. This may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease.

2. Vitamin C from foods also seems to reduce the risk of cartilage loss in osteoarthritis.

3. Vitamin C helps the body to better absorb non-hemi iron. Vitamin C-rich foods should be combined with iron-rich plant foods in the same meal.

4. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that can strengthen the body’s natural defenses this may help reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases.

5. Vitamin C supplements have been found to lower blood pressure.

6. It boosts Immunity by helping White Blood Cells lymphocytes and phagocytes, function better and protect the body against infections.

7. Increasing Vitamin C in your diet protects Memory and Thinking in old age because dementia may have lower levels of vitamin C in the blood.

Some Unproven Claims About Vitamin C

While vitamin C has many scientifically proven benefits, it also has many grandmother’s remedies to its credit like driving away the common cold but they have no scientific proof. Though these remedies do work when applied. Vitamin C supplementation significantly reduces the frequency of the common cold but had no apparent effect on the duration or severity of the common cold. However, regular vitamin C supplements had several benefits, including:

• Reduced cold severity:
• Reduced cold duration:

Conclusion

Vitamin C supplements have been found to reduce the risk of heart disease. These supplements may lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and blood triglycerides. It also reduces Blood Uric Acid Levels and helps in the prevention of Gout.

It also helps prevent Iron Deficiency by Improving Iron absorption and may help reduce the risk of anemia among people with iron deficiency.
One of the main reasons people take vitamin C supplements is to boost their immunity. Vitamin C is involved in many parts of the immune system.

Vitamin C may boost immunity by helping white blood cells function more effectively, strengthening your skin’s defense system, and helping wounds heal faster. Low vitamin C levels have been linked to an increased risk of memory and thinking disorders like dementia, while a high intake of vitamin C from foods and supplements has been shown to have a protective effect.

Though it has been acclaimed universally that Vitamin C is a very important nutrient for our survival and as far as possible it should be absorbed from normal foods of Vitamin C rich diet, if a person is unable to absorb the required amount of Vitamin C from his/her normal diet then he/she should opt for Vitamin C Supplements.

Some good and well-known Vitamin C supplements come from the Fast & Up group which manufactures energy drinks for sportspersons. It also has the distinction of being associated with many sports events like the TATA MUMBAI MARATHON .and the Indian cricket team as their official drink partner.

Fast&Up Charge – is a Vitamin C antioxidant in tablet form 1000 mg of natural Amla extract in orange flavor. Try it the sportspeople love it.