December 2020 Newsletter

My “go to”supplement is Vitamin C- especially in December!

As we approach the holiday season, if I could choose one “go to” supplement, without a doubt it would have to be vitamin C. The health benefits of this “essential vitamin” are numerous and well-worth mentioning. Vitamin C is considered an essential vitamin because our bodies desperately need it, however, we cannot make it ourselves. Also, vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, meaning we need proper amounts of water to absorb it. So what are the major benefits of taking vitamin C on a daily basis?

First of all, taking vitamin C regularly has been shown to help protect our memory and thinking capability as we age. Dementia is a general term for people with poor memory and poor thinking. There is a strong relationship between people with dementia and low levels of vitamin C in the blood. Vitamin C, being a powerful antioxidant, has the ability to boost our immune system and help with our thinking and memory function.

Another health benefit of vitamin C intake would be lowering the risk of chronic diseases. When our bodies have a condition such as high blood pressure or heart disease, it is the result of inflammation. When our bodies are inflamed, free radicals are released into our bloodstream. Vitamin C attacks and neutralizes free radicals which then lowers inflammation and provides us with good overall health. Furthermore, there are additional benefits of vitamin C supplementation. Vitamin C intake has been shown to reduce blood uric acid levels and prevent iron deficiency. When blood uric acid levels are high, a painful condition called gout occurs causing pain in the joints of the foot, especially the great toe. When iron levels are low, we are anemic with less red blood cells in our bodies. The reduced number of red blood cells limits our oxygen carrying capacity and negatively affects our health.

Lastly, vitamin C taken regularly is a great way to boost our body’s overall immunity. Our white blood cells will function better, wound healing time will reduce and people with health conditions such as pneumonia will have shorter recovery times when vitamin C is included in their diets.

Want to learn more, check out this excellent article by Ryan Raman on Healthline.

Happy Holidays!

Yours in Good Health,
Dr. Jeff Hamill & KMHC Staff