Here’s a not-so-fun fact: In the 18th century, the British Navy lost more men to scurvy than to actual warfare.
Perplexed, many suspected that eating citrus could cure the disease, though doctors and consensus medical professionals dismissed the idea. However, opinions quickly changed as more and more captains supplied their ships with lemons and all but eradicated the disease, tides changed. Many governments went so far as to fully finance the stocking of ships with lemons, enough to last entire voyages.
Most of us will never deal with scurvy. But especially in today’s immune-conscious climate, Vitamin C can provide an antioxidant-rich approach to health and wellness. And putting Vitamin C to work on your immune system starts when we understand what Vitamin C actually does, and where we can get our hands on it.
So, what is Vitamin C?
Also known as Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin C is found primarily in colorful fruits and vegetables, especially:
These foods are rich in Vitamin C, and are likely already a part of your diet; if not, they are easy to incorporate!
Adults are recommended to take around 500 mg per day, but the upper limit is about 2000 mg per day. Since you probably would require a supplement to come anywhere near 500 mg, it is unlikely that you will consume too much. It also is unusual to experience negative side effects from taking too much Vitamin C, since it’s water-soluble (it dissolves in water before it can be delivered to the body’s tissues). Water-soluble vitamins are also not stored in the body - excess amounts are excreted - so they must be supplied continuously.
This means it’s really important to include Vitamin C in your daily diet!
We are exposed to countless toxins in our day-to-day life, the most pervasive being free radicals. We hear this phrase thrown around a lot, usually with very little context. So let’s go a little deeper.
Free radicals are single electrons that are usually the waste from chemical processes. We can build up free radicals as a result of breaking down substances in the substances we consume (typically through fried foods and alcohol) and from exposure to pollutants such as smoking and pesticides.
Electrons are naturally found in pairs. So when an electron loses its buddy, often through some chemical process, it roams freely, trying to find something with which to bind. This process can wreak unintended havoc on the body, leading to oxidative stress, cell damage and even diseases such as cancer.
The solution? Give these lonely electrons something to bind with. This is where antioxidants such as Vitamin C become critically important. Antioxidants are able to stabilize free radicals by giving them one of their electrons without becoming unstable themselves. This means that they could potentially ward off major diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Because of Vitamin C’s many roles in the body, its presence can be used as a marker for general health. In general, a Vitamin C deficiency signals other issues at hand, especially since Vitamin C deficiency has a strong correlation with stress and stress-related diseases. People who are obese, smoke and/or consume excess alcohol typically experience Vitamin C deficiency.
Our bodies make collagen from amino acids that we consume. One great way of supporting collagen production and functionality is through the consumption of our Fountain of Youth collagen formula, fast-acting energy delivered in a single ingredient. Since there are no vegan collagens (collagen is an animal protein after all) this is one of the most effective ways of supporting collagen production apart, oftentimes in addition to a diet rich in antioxidant-dense foods.
Vitamin C works double time for your skin, providing benefits when consumed and applied topically. One of the most popular uses for Vitamin C and the skin is as a serum, when you’re not consuming it easily in beverage form.
Because of its properties as an antioxidant fighting off free radicals, Vitamin C prevents wrinkles and saggy skin. It protects skin from the damage of free radicals, especially those caused by our environment, such as pollution and sun exposure.
Enjoy Vitamin C as a capsule, a powder, naturally in fresh fruits and vegetables, or through our Fountain of Youth formula. This collagen blend contains biotin and Vitamin C, as well as the superfruit properties of maqui berry. This nutritious blend not only helps fortify the body’s internal connective tissues; it also helps promote glowing, healthy, strong skin that is less susceptible to the noticeable signs of aging.
Somehow, Vitamin C has garnered quite the reputation of being the one thing you need to ward off sickness. But while Vitamin C alone is not enough to keep the immune system afloat, it does play a powerful part in keeping the immune system strong. Studies time and time again find that Vitamin C plays an integral role in overall immunity, in and in the immune system’s response to specific challenges in the body.
And Vitamin C to help you see? That’s easy to remember! Vitamin C has been found to prevent cataracts and can slow down macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
Vitamin C can help your body produce collagen, so it only makes sense to take it with your collagen peptides. BUBS Naturals Fountain of Youth Formula combines collagen peptides with Vitamin C and biotin so that your body has what it needs to keep skin, joints and cartilage healthy and strong. If you’re looking to enhance vision, quicken healing and protect your body inside and out, you’re looking for a healthy dose of Vitamin C.