Vitamin C plays an important role in our body as an antioxidant. You may have heard this term but not really know what it means. During the course of a day our body generates a vast quantity of free radicals which can damage our cells. Vitamin C has a role in mopping up these free radicals and protecting our cells from damage.
Vitamin C also helps in many other reactions in the body. It is important in making collagen that helps with the healing of the body’s various tissues when wounded. Vitamin C also helps with many other bodily functions including using energy, creating neurotransmitters, and regulating our metabolic rate.
When under extreme physical stress the body uses more vitamin C, think infections, burns or extreme hot or cold temperatures. All these require the immune system to step up which produces more free radicals that in turn uses more vitamin C.
Another important fact about vitamin C is that it helps us to absorb iron. Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency globally and approximately 12% of NZ women (aged 31-50) are iron deficient ¹. Hence why it’s so important to eat vitamin C rich vegetables or fruit with your protein.