Dr. Linus Pauling once said: “Nearly all diseases can be traced back to nutritional deficiency.”
Yup, that’s coming straight from a two-time Nobel Prize-winning doctor. And if that isn’t convincing enough for you to start a healthy diet, I don’t know what would be! Especially at this time of our life where our hormones go loco due to many factors, we got more reasons to load up our body with enough nutrients!
Menopause can make us vulnerable in many aspects — physically, emotionally, mentally. But cheer up! You will only go weak IF YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO. Start believing in the power of healthy eating, exercising, resting and staying passionate in life!
In this article, let us put the spotlight on the most famous immune-booster of all time — vitamin C! Discover the benefits it could bring to your menopause symptoms! Let me walk you through. ?
What Makes Vitamin C an UNBEATABLE Immune Booster?
Vitamin C, also known as “ascorbic acid”, is everyone’s top-choice of vitamin when it comes to disease prevention. It is vital in the growth, development and repair of all body tissues!
Aside from that, this impressive vitamin also plays a valuable part in the following:
- Formation of Collagen
- Absorption of Iron
- Wound Healing
- Maintaining Bone Health
- Proper Functioning of the Immune System
It is also one of the many antioxidants that can fight oxidative stress! Without healthy antioxidants, free radicals can build up in our body and contribute to the development of health conditions － such as cancer, heart disease and arthritis. Antioxidants also effectively help delay aging! I know, that’s music to the ears!
Additionally, vitamin C offers a wide range of extra essential functions, particularly in menopause! It aids in:
- Improving Skin Condition
- Promoting Healthy Teeth, Gum and Joints
- Regulating Histamine Levels
- Energizing
Vitamin C is indeed every midlife woman’s terrific way to get going, isn’t it?! To further discuss what vitamin C can do for your midlife health, listen to this highly informative video from A. Vogel!
What Happens When I Lack Vitamin C?
Vitamin C deficiency is quite rampant in malnourished adults. In worst cases, it can lead to “scurvy” — a disease that results in fatigue, anemia, bruises, bleeding and losing teeth. Scurvy was made famous by pirates and sailors in the 1700s — going for months or years at sea without eating fresh foods!
While in menopause, one interesting thing linked to vitamin C deficiency is sugar cravings. If you are craving sugar often, it can be a clue that you are low in vitamin C! ?
But don’t worry, there are ways to put an end to that. Visit our specially written article about food cravings during menopause! ?
Furthermore, the University of Maryland Medical System found that low levels of vitamin C can be associated with several health conditions, such as:
- Common Cold
- High Blood Pressure
- Gallbladder Problems
- Osteoarthritis
- Macular Degeneration
- Atherosclerosis
- Asthma
Getting enough vitamin C from your diet will reduce your risk of developing these health conditions. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables! Now, you must be wondering where to get your vitamin C… ? Read on because we got you!
The Best Sources for Your Daily Vitamin C Needs
First of all, here’s a fact you should know:
“Ascorbic acid” is the synthetic form of vitamin C that’s usually found in supplements. Its salt form is labeled “ascorbate”, and natural vitamin C IS MORE THAN JUST ASCORBIC ACID.
In fact, ascorbic acid is just a small part of vitamin C, found in vegetables and fruits! The moment I learned this, I was compelled to be more careful about where I get my vitamin C.
For years, I have seen how vitamin C in its natural form is indeed far better than ascorbic acid! Besides eating vegetables, liver and berries, there are also plenty of vitamin C-rich sources such as acerola, camu camu and rosehip. These are all very nutritious and environment-friendly! Sauerkraut is a great vitamin C source too — PLUS, it promotes better digestion and gut health! ?
Note that vitamin C is sensitive to light, air and heat! So, you’ll get the most vitamin C if you eat fruits and vegetables raw or lightly cooked. To know more natural sources for your vitamin C needs, check out this video from Dr. Berg! [The Highest Vitamin C Food… on the Planet] [2:01]
Can I Overdose on Vitamin C?
Well, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, remember? This means excess amounts are excreted by the body. So, overdosing is not a serious matter!
The Office of Dietary Supplements reports that you can safely consume up to 2000 mg of vitamin C daily! In fact, high doses of vitamin C can help prevent viral infections!
Studies prove that high doses of vitamin C can be a valuable remedy for respiratory and viral infections — including Coronavirus. It is a very potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting properties.
Sounds like everything we need right at this time, eh?
Menopause and viral pandemic happening at the same time could be a double-trouble if you don’t take extra care of your health!
This is why almost all health experts highly encourage getting adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, especially at this time! You can also get vitamin C from a variety of natural food sources! As much as you can, GO THE NATURAL WAY. ?
The Takeaway
Nutrients, such as vitamin C, will make you go a long way in menopause. At this age, we really need extra support in everything that’s going on inside our body. Every waking day, it is all about what you fill in your whole plate! Just always remember that a variety of food, rich in all nutrients, is the best strategy to optimize your health at midlife! ?
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References:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c
https://www.avogel.co.uk/health/menopause/videos/the-importance-of-vitamin-c-in-menopause/
http://accurateclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Vitamin-C-Ascorbic-acid-University-of-Maryland-Medical-Center.pdf
https://bodyecology.com/articles/sauerkraut-is-a-superior-source-of-vitamin-c/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/410804-vitamin-c-maximum-dosage/
https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-019-1437-3
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7553131/
Gita is the founder of My Menopause Journey. Since 2014, she has been supporting midlife women by sharing hard-earned learnings from her own experience. To advance her knowledge, Gita puts a lot of her time and effort into understanding the broad spectrum of women’s health. She immerses in extensive research about the physical, mental and emotional aspects of menopause. Gita believes in the life-changing power of healthy, holistic living — this is where she anchors her message to all women. Learn more about her marvelous mission in About us - My Menopause Journey.