It’s cold and flu season now. Flu shots have been returning at local clinics and pharmacies. For preventative home care, many people turn to vitamin C to ward off colds and flus; this vitamin helps the immune system function at an optimum level. However, the benefits of vitamin C go beyond just helping fight off a cold. The vitamin is great to consume to maintain overall health in the body, because cells need vitamin C to work properly. Our bodies do not naturally produce the vitamin, so it’s important for us to consume this vitamin through our diet.

These are all benefits this vitamin provides for the body:

• According to the Journal of American College of Nutrition, proper levels of Vitamin C helps the body burn more fat during exercise with up to a 30% difference between optimal and insufficient levels.
• Vitamin C helps improve blood cell function and vascular relaxation, which can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, and lower blood pressure.
• Vitamin C fights off cell-damaging free radicals in the body, which can help your body reduce inflammation.
• This vitamin may enhance chemotherapy’s effect on cancer cells, and improves the quality of life in cancer patients.
• This can help with cataracts, because it helps increase the blood supply to the ocular areas.
• This vitamin has been known to help repair wounds in the body, because it helps the growth of connective tissues that speed up the healing process.
• Low levels of this vitamin and diabetes are related; this vitamin helps the process of insulin and glucose in the body.
• A disease associated with severe vitamin C deficiency is known as scurvy.

If you’re looking to improve your overall nutrition, besides just adding vitamin C, it’s best to talk to a doctor. Dr. Kordonowy offers the unique Biophotonic scanner to assess your body stores of certain antioxidants.  Dr. Kordonowy of Internal Medicine, Lipid & Wellness of Fort Myers provides dietary education services and counseling, as well. To book an appointment, click here or call 239-362-3005, ext. 200.