What are the best natural sources of Vitamin C
The best natural sources of Vitamin C are limes, strawberries, and oranges. Lemons are also a source of Vitamin C, but they’re more acidic than the other three. Each of these fruits delivers a substantial dose of Vitamin C to the body. But eating only one to two servings at most will give your body enough fuel to power through the day. Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that you should be careful of your sugar intake if you consume a lot of fruit. Too much sugar from either fruit or candy can have adverse health effects…
When it comes to vitamins that pack a powerful punch, it’s hard to beat good old vitamin C. This one vitamin plays several important roles in your body, such as making collagen and repairing tissue in your body, it can reduce the risk of cancer, and it’s great for your arteries and your heart, to name a few. Sure, you can pop a vitamin C supplement, but many people prefer to get it naturally.
The vitamin C content in various fruits and vegetables can range tremendously, however, the list below provides some good starting points for a broad variety of fruits and vegetables.
The benefits of consuming natural sources of vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins, and it’s required for a wide range of functions. It’s an antioxidant which helps repair and prevent damage in the body. It also plays a role in boosting your immune system, keeping you healthy, and fighting off infections.
Vitamin C is essential for your body to stay healthy and happy. It helps build collagen, the main component of skin, bones, and connective tissue. It also helps your immune system fight off colds and infections, boosts iron absorption, promotes tissue growth and repair, helps release energy from food, and supports the adrenal glands.
When looking at natural sources of Vitamin C, think of citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits. You can also get it from tomatoes and broccoli. Other good sources include peppers, cabbage (especially red cabbage), strawberries, kiwis, and papayas.
If you don’t get enough Vitamin C in your diet, you’re more likely to get sick when exposed to viruses or bacteria. If you’re trying to boost your intake of Vitamin C-rich foods or want to make sure you’re getting enough in general, here are some tips for natural sources of vitamin C:
Oranges
Of course, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention oranges as a natural source of vitamin C. This is a given; almost everyone looks to this fruit as their answer. While that is certainly true, there are, in fact, many other sources that have just as much vitamin C in them, if not more. If you’re going to reach for an orange, eat it whole or juice it for the best results.
Red Bell Pepper
Hard to believe these tasty little balls of goodness actually are filled with vitamin C. In fact if you eat a full cup of chopped peppers, that’s as much vitamin C as three oranges! Red bell peppers can be enjoyed raw or in cooked dishes. As a side note, green bell peppers offer just as much vitamin C so if you prefer them, opt for them instead.
Papayas
This tasty fruit is not only great at any time of day, but one serving of it will give you 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. As an added bonus, it’s also high in vitamin A.
Guava
Here’s another fabulous fruit to reach for that is versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. If you eat one whole guava you have more than doubled your recommended daily intake of vitamin C. As well these are high in manganese, folic acid, and dietary fiber. You just can’t go wrong with this fruit.
Leafy Greens
Dark leafy greens such as spinach, watercress, turnip greens, chard, mustard greens, and kale can be used in cooked dishes, as a salad, and even in a smoothie and pack a whole lot of vitamin C in them.
Your best bet for natural sources of vitamin C
Your best bet for meeting your recommended daily intake is to include various foods and get creative with how you prepare them. One important thing to remember is to properly wash all your fruits and vegetables before consumption to avoid any other health issues.
What’s great about these foods is that you can still get a lot of natural sources of Vitamin C from them, even if you have access to other supplements or fortified foods. These also taste good, as opposed to pills which often have a bad taste. No one wants to eat a supplement they think tastes gross when they don’t have a choice!
Sources
http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/vitamin_c_why_do_we_need_it
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/foods-high-in-vitamin-c/
