Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients for your body. It is an essential vitamin, which means that your body cannot produce it on its own; you have to obtain it through the food you eat. It is a water soluble vitamin that can be found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, some of which you might not be expecting, like bell peppers, kiwi fruit, strawberries, kale, spinach, etc.
Health Benefits of Vitamin C
The most important reason to include vitamin C in your diet is the health benefits of course:
Scurvy
This is one of the oldest known diseases that is linked to a vitamin C deficiency. It is much less of a concern in the modern day where vitamin C is so readily available. Scurvy can lead to loss of teeth, skin lesions, and bacterial infections.
Strong antioxidant with cancer fighting properties
One of the most important health benefits of vitamin C is that it is an antioxidant. Vitamin C has the ability to kill free radicals which can cause your cells to mutate and lead to the development of cancer.
Immune System Booster
One of the defining features of vitamin C is that it boosts the immune system. That is why vitamin C is consumed as the first round of defense when you are starting to feel sick. Vitamin C is able to boost the immune system because it is directly responsible for white blood cell production.
Protects Your Memory
If you are afraid of age-related memory diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease, you will want to include vitamin C in your diet. Vitamin C actually protects your brain and reduces the effects of aging. It’s the ultimate reason to eat a bell pepper a day; it keeps the memory loss at bay.