Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is well known for its role in supporting a healthy immune system. Did you know that your body cannot make vitamin C, so it must come from the foods you eat every day.Research shows that vitamin C is essential for the growth and repair of tissue all over the body. Vitamin C can even help to heal your wounds as well as repair and maintain healthy bones, teeth, skin and cartilage. As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights free radicals in the body which may help prevent or delay certain cancers and heart disease and promote healthy aging. Vitamin C from foods also seems to reduce the risk of cartilage loss in those with osteoarthritis.

Now not amount of Vitamin C will keep you from catching a cold, but there is some evidence that high doses of vitamin C may decrease the length of cold symptoms by as much as one to one-and-a-half days for some people. However, some other studies did not find the same results, and actually found that there was a higher risk of side effects when high doses of vitamin C supplements were consumed. So it is important to check with your doctor or registered dietitian nutritionist at Peak Wellness before taking.

There are several sources of vitamin C that are abundant and extend past just consuming oranges or orange juice. There are actually many other fruits and vegetables that also supply this vital vitamin. Other sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, green and red bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kiwifruit, among others. You can either enjoy these foods raw or cooked, but it’s important to note that fruits and vegetables lose vitamin C when they are heated or if they are stored for long periods of time. To get the most nutrients, eat them as soon as possible after shopping. If you still want you vegetables cooked then consider steaming or microwaving them for short periods of time in order to limit the loss of nutrients.

Vegetarians may be especially interested to know that vitamin C helps the body to better absorb non-heme iron — the kind from plant foods such as beans, spinach and quinoa. To get this benefit, combine vitamin C-rich foods with iron-rich plant foods in the same meal. For example, combine black beans and salsa or create a flavorful spinach salad with strawberries and mandarin oranges.

At Peak Wellness we offer IV Drip Therapy in our IV Drip Lounge. This treatment has garnered impressive support and widespread use particularly among those that wish to support their immune function. Clients have been flocking to our IV clinics after hearing that IV vitamin C  thwarted some of the untoward and potentially deadly effects of the coronavirus. While by no means proven, IV vitamin C is believed by some to work in a chemo-therapeutic way by potentially killing off certain cancer cells. In the research, IV vitamin C has been claimed to possibly improve the prognosis in patients with certain viral infections and even support lower blood pressure. Peak Wellness offers vitamin C by IV administration, as well as a number of other micronutrients specifically shown to have a role in supporting a robust immune system.