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Vitamin C – the fruity foundation of immunity

22. marraskuuta 2016

Vitamin C – the fruity foundation of immunity

When winter comes and the days are short and cold, day by day we lose the desire and motivation to live active. The period of colds gradually affects an increasing number of people, and the queues to doctors spring up like mushrooms. What do you do to protect yourself from lowered immunity and prevent disease?

In addition to a warm scarf and jacket it's good to invest in a healthy diet. The new nutrition pyramid suggests we should eat 3 – 4 servings of fruit and 4 – 5 servings of vegetables every day. It is mainly them that contain vitamin C, which is so important for our body. It is therefore important to plan healthy food that will cover our need for vitamins and minerals. This will help us support our immune system and prevent common colds.

One of the most important vitamins that affect our immunity during the fall and winter time is vitamin C. The demand for vitamin C of an adult is approx. 60 mg a day, increased only in pregnant women and in people actively practicing sports. Natural Vitamin C is also known as L-ascorbic acid. It is found in many living organisms, both animals and vegetables. Man, unfortunately, do not have the ability to self-synthesize vitamin C, so the entire daily demand must be supplied with the diet.

The best sources of vitamin C in the human diet include:

  • acerola (4500 mg/100 g)
  • wild rose (450 mg/100 g)
  • sea buckthorn (320 mg/100 g)
  • dogwood (100-200 mg/100 g)
  • parsley (178 mg/100 g)
  • black currant (177 mg/100 g)
  • Goji berries (148 mg/100 g)
 

Vitamin C plays many functions in the human organism that are crucial to health: it actively participates in the transformation of tyrosine and, as a powerful antioxidant, has an effect on the oxidative balance of the body. Research has shown that supplementation with vitamin C has a large effect on reducing the risk of colds among professional athletes and those who work hard physically. Vitamin C is well soluble in water, so there are known cases of overdose – all the excess is excreted with the urine. Nutritionists and doctors, however, agree that we should not exceed a dose of 2 g of pure vitamin C a day, as it can cause stomach problems, as well as nausea and vomiting.

Vitamin C deficiencies are exhibited by delayed wound healing, hypersensitivity of blood vessels and diseases of the oral cavity, such as scurvy or gangrene. The appropriate amount of vitamin C in our diet will allow us to avoid muscle and joint pain, as it is also responsible for the synthesis of collagen and thus supports the operation of the osteoarticular system. Vitamin C is a component of the best supplements for men and for women. It helps increase our body's physical and mental efficiency.

There has been much talk recently about the two forms of the vitamin C, namely about the levorotatory and dextrorotatory vitamin C. What is the difference between them and why has the use of this division become so important recently?

It turns out that laevorotatory vitamin C is present in nature and is synthesized by living organisms. Extremely high amounts of it are found in acerola and wild rose.

Wild rose has been used for years by our mothers and grandmothers. They knew long ago that in times of poor health and disease, children and adults should be given wild rose juice or jam. What is the phenomenon of this plant then? Wild rose, in addition to high doses of vitamin C, also contains bioflavonoids that play a significant role in the antioxidant defence mechanisms of the body. Bioflavonoids protect the DNA from free radicals and increase the absorption of vitamin C from the diet, therefore the acerola-wild rose combination is highly functional in the pharmaceutical industry.

Acerola is also known as Malpighia glabra. It is a plant whose small fruits look like cherries and contain large amounts of natural vitamin C. It is generally accepted that lemon contains a lot of vitamin C. As it turns out, acerola has 30 times more! Acerola fruits have a refreshing taste, so on the regions where it exists naturally, it is a raw material for jams, juices and purees. The pharmaceutical market has been increasingly interested in the fruit lately as it is the basis for innovative supplements.

There are many food supplements that contain vitamin C, the NUTRICODE IMMUNO, however, deserves special attention. Its unique formula is the already mentioned functional combination of the acerola fruit extract and bioflavonoids from wild rose. The duo not only provides us with an appropriate dose of vitamin C daily, but also ensures its proper assimilation. Take care of your body and strengthen you immunity today!