Whenever the topic of healthy living is being talked about, vitamin C is always on everyone’s lips. Its popularity is attributed to immunity boosting properties as well as helping ward off stress. But how much do actually know about vitamin C? Let’s learn more about this wonderful nutrient, what it can do for you, and how we can easily add it to our diet.
What is vitamin C?
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is vital for a variety of bodily functions. Scientifically known as L-ascorbic acid, vitamin C is water-soluble and simply put, our bodies don’t have the capabilities to produce vitamin C on its own and it is easily broken-down by drinking lots of water.
Vitamin C can be found as being naturally present in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, like strawberries and oranges, and it is also available as a supplement, making it highly accessible to everyone.
Why we need vitamin C
Vitamin C, like all other vitamins and minerals, is needed to help make our bodies stronger and healthier.
We’re sure that you know that vitamin C is good for warding off the common cold, but it is actually pretty useful in other ways too.
For example, vitamin C is essential because it helps produce collagen, L-carnitine, and some neurotransmitters. It also helps the body absorb iron, and boosts the body’s immune system.
Benefits of vitamin C
As a potent antioxidant, vitamin C could reduce oxidative stress and prevent disease-causing free radicals. It has been also shown that consuming high amounts of vitamin C can lower your risk of developing certain chronic diseases.
While vitamin C boasts a multitude of benefits, it’s best known for its role in immune function. Vitamin C can help to boost your immune system and shorten the symptoms of illnesses, including the common cold. This is because vitamin C promotes the production of white blood cells, and these cells help protect your body against certain viruses and infections.
How can you get more vitamin C?
Luckily, vitamin C is present in a huge range of foods like fruits and vegetables. Though the amount of vitamin C present in each type of food varies, it can be easier than you think to boost your vitamin C intake – and that’s by adding superfoods rich in vitamin C to your diet.
What do we mean by superfoods?
You’ve probably heard of some foods being referred to as superfoods. Usually plant-based, though there are some meat and dairy exceptions, a superfood is a food that is nutritionally dense. Due to high levels of a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants, superfoods usually have many health benefits being attributed to them.
Superfoods come from all over the world and because in some instances they may only be grown in certain regions, they can come in many different formats – from fresh fruits to powdered extracts, tinctures to capsules. These different formats makes it easy to add some of the more exotic superfoods to your diet.
Vitamin C rich superfoods
So, which superfoods have lots of vitamin C? Keep reading to discover some of our favourite vitamin C rich superfoods.
Acai Berries
Acai berries are considered to be one of the best superfoods in the health food world. They offer superior nutritional value vs the calories they contain, along with a multitude of health benefits to boot.
Acai berries contain a high amount of Vitamin C which is an antioxidant that works to fight off free radicals which can damage our skin cells, hair, teeth and eyes. Not only does this boost of antioxidants help to promote young and radiant skin but it can also help eliminate free radicals that can cause cardiovascular health issues like heart disease.
Acai berries have also been found to have detoxifying effects as they can help cleanse the digestive system and improve intestinal health. The natural fibre in acai also assists you to digest and absorb nutrients in other foods.
Elderberries
The Elderberry is a medicinal plant used throughout history by everyone from Ancient Egyptians to Europeans to Native Americans. Elderberry has been used for everything from treating pain to decreasing inflammation and swelling. You may recognize elderberry as an immunity boosting superstar. But in addition to keeping your body healthy and strong, the elderberry packs amazing skincare benefits as well!
Elderberries are nutrient & antioxidant-rich, containing high amounts of Vitamin C, as well as vitamins A and B. These potentially give elderberries antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, making them a powerhouse for fighting free-radical and environmental damage from things like UV rays and pollution.
Additionally, elderberries are rich in antioxidants, specifically flavonoids, and anthocyanins. These powerful antioxidants provide protection from the free radicals just waiting to wreak havoc on your body.
Discover some of our favourite elderberry recipes here.
Maitake Mushrooms
Maitake mushrooms grow in the wild regions of Japan and China, as well as in certain parts of North America. Fitness experts, health buffs, and people from all ages and walks of life have been praising this mushroom for its ability to possibly help increase the health, vitality, and longevity of those who take it, and helps maintain the gut health of the body. Maitake mushrooms could be able to do all these things due to the many vitamins and minerals present in them.
In fact, these mushrooms are rich in Vitamins B and C, antioxidants, beta-glucans, copper, potassium, fiber, and amino acids. These are some of the minerals your body would need in order to maintain itself in tip top condition, as well as be able to fight off infection and the development of disease. The Maitake mushroom also appears to positively affect our digestive system. The mushroom could have an anti-inflammatory effect on the gastrointestinal tract, which could also help alleviate symptoms of IBS or irritable bowel syndrome, while maintaining a healthy and balanced gut environment.
Conclusion
Your food habits and the kind of lifestyle you choose will ultimately determine how healthy you are, but if you’re looking to boost your immune system and help your body along, superfoods rich in vitamin C can give you a helping hand. Acai berries, elderberries, and maitake mushrooms are only some of the best superfoods you can take on a daily basis to boost your vitamin C levels. Vitamin C could be the difference you might just need in order to get yourself on the path towards health and wellness.
Here at Superfoods Australia, we have a wide range of superfoods available, including the ones we’ve listed today. Discover our range of superfood extracts, powders and tinctures here. You can shop online from anywhere in Australia – we make it easy with AfterPay and free express delivery for orders over $100 Australia wide.
Get your superfood fix today from Superfoods Australia.
