Give your immune system a boost this winter with Vitamin C!

With winter here, it’s always a good idea to give our immune system just that extra boost, because every little bit helps.

Let’s have a look at some of the health benefits of vitamin C, and which foods it is rich in.

Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant that helps protect cells from free radicals that cause cellular damage in the body. It supports a healthy immune system and is needed for the growth and development of body tissues and wound healing. Although vitamin C can’t prevent you from catching a cold, it may help towards a faster recovery.

Vitamin C also helps our body to absorb iron, so it’s a good idea to combine foods that are rich in both vitamin C and iron. Tip: drink some orange juice when taking an iron tablet.

It’s good for our skin too because it stimulates the production of collagen. Vitamin C also helps neutralize the free radicals that damage skin cells and cause oxidative stress to the skin, which can lead to premature skin aging.

It’s not just citrus fruits though that contain vitamin C. There are lots of other fruits and vegetables that are also rich in this vitamin!

Fruits that are rich in vitamin C include:

Oranges, clementines, grapefruits, kiwis, strawberries, pineapples, mangoes, and lemons and limes.

Vegetables that are rich in vitamin C include:

Kale, broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, red, yellow, orange and green peppers.

You can also take a vitamin C supplement as well to boost your immune system.

TIP:

Do a quick check list of what you typically eat, to see if you’re getting an adequate amount of vitamin C.