Boost your Immune System: Benefits of Vitamin C

In light of the global pandemic Corona Virus, also known as COVID-19, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with all the known facts, and to put as much as possible measures in place to keep you and your loved ones safe from the disease, and to assist our society to prevent it from spreading. One of those important measures is to ensure that your immune system is at optimal strength to protect your body.

Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid is an immune system booster and an essential vitamin, meaning your body can’t produce it by itself.  The following Magalies 100% Fruit Juices are high in Vitamin C because it contains more than 30% of the NRV (Nutrient Reference Value) for Vitamin C: 100% Fruits & Vitamins, 100% Orange as well as the 100% Guava.

Vitamin C has many roles and has been linked to impressive health benefits. It’s water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, and spinach. The South African NRV for Vitamin C is 100mg per day.

Here are some benefits of Vitamin C:

• Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can strengthen your body’s natural defences. Antioxidants are molecules that boost the immune system. They do so by protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. When free radicals accumulate, they can promote a state known as oxidative stress, which has been linked to many chronic diseases. Studies show that consuming more vitamin C can increase your blood antioxidant levels by up to 30%. This helps the body’s natural defences fight inflammation.
• Vitamin C helps encourage the production of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and phagocytes, which help protect the body against infection. Vitamin C helps these white blood cells function more effectively while protecting them from damage by potentially harmful molecules, such as free radicals. Vitamin C is an essential part of the skin’s defence system. It’s actively transported to the skin, where it can act as an antioxidant and help strengthen the skin’s barriers https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25157026
• What’s more, low vitamin C levels have been linked to poor health outcomes. For example, people who have pneumonia tend to have lower vitamin C levels, and vitamin C supplements have been shown to shorten the recovery time (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15139458).Staying hydrated can boost your immune health too. Water helps your body produce lymph, which carries white blood cells and other immune system cells. Try to avoid overdoing beverages that can cause you to dehydrated, like coffee. Or try eating more hydrating foods, such as cucumbers, celery or watermelon or drink some juice – which is water with the additional benefits of vitamins and fibre.