National Vitamin C Day
It’s good for your immune system, it’s good for your mental health, it’s even good for your skin. Don’t neglect this crucial vitamin on Vitamin C Day.
Vitamin C. We all hear about it, how good it is for us, how it will help us fight off that cold. But how much do we really know about this mystery substance, and just how much can it do to help our bodies?
Take advantage of Vitamin C day to learn something new and boost your health, to boot!
How to Celebrate National Vitamin C Day
The best way to celebrate National Vitamin C Day is to stay healthy — and this very vitamin can help you with that! Check out a few of these ways to celebrate this important event:
Get Enough Vitamin C in Your Diet
Vitamin C is necessary for good health and general well-being, but the unfortunate truth is that not everyone has the time to pay close attention to what they eat and just how many grams or milligrams of a certain substance they consume daily.
The drastic rise in popularity of convenience foods has caused people’s diets to become much less healthy over the recent years. This is combined with the fact that many people are working longer hours than ever and don’t have the time or the energy to cook themselves and their families a well-balanced meal every day.
Luckily, there are a few ways to make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin C, no matter your lifestyle!
Enjoy Lemon Juice for Vitamin C
One is to simply squeeze lemon juice into the water you drink. Half a lemon contains almost 100% of your daily vitamin C requirement, so just a squeeze here and there will be more than enough!
As it turns out, you can put lemon juice into pretty much everything for your daily dose of Vitamin C as well as a deliciously tangy zing. It even works for alcoholic beverages, which might also help to avoid a hangover.
As opposed to some other “healthy” foods which, let’s face it, can be downright nasty (looking at you, kale!), lemon juice makes almost everything you put it on and in taste better. Salad dressings. Grilled meats. The list goes on. And if for whatever reason you’re not a fan of lemons, don’t worry!
Many fruits and vegetables contain enough Vitamin C to keep you healthy, including tomatoes, strawberries, spinach, peppers, and many more. Take advantage of National Vitamin C Day to do your body a favor!
Apply Vitamin C to Your Skin
Vitamin C cannot only be consumed, but it can be applied to your skin as well. As mentioned earlier, Vitamin C is great for skin health.
Why not make your own Vitamin C serum? It is not as difficult as you may think! All you need is some aloe vera gel, filtered water, and vitamin C powder. You may decide to add some other vitamins as well, such as vitamin E oil. There are some variations of how to make vitamin C serums and facemasks online, but the ingredient list is a simple one, yet the benefits are vast!
Of course, you can also buy some vitamin C skin products, rather than making your own. If you are going to use a vitamin C serum, whether homemade or not, we recommend washing your face first and using a toner. You can then apply a small amount of the serum, which is probably going to be quite thick.
Do this before you go to bed, and add another layer of moisturizer. In the morning, you should wash your face thoroughly before any makeup is applied. Because of sun exposure, vitamin C serum is not designed to be used on a daily basis.
Make sure you spread the word about National Vitamin C Day and the benefits associated with this nutrient so that you can help others experience the benefits of it!
National Vitamin C Day FAQs
How did potatoes become valuable during the Alaskan Klondike Gold Rush?
During the 1897-1898 Alaskan Klondike Gold Rush, miners traded gold for potatoes. Potatoes, rich in vitamin C, helped prevent scurvy, making them as precious as gold.
Why are British sailors nicknamed “limeys”?
In the 18th century, British sailors consumed lime juice to prevent scurvy. This practice led to the nickname “limeys
Which animals cannot produce their own vitamin C?
Humans, primates, guinea pigs, and certain bats cannot synthesize vitamin C internally. They must obtain it through their diet.
What was the original name given to vitamin C upon its discovery?
Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi first isolated vitamin C in 1928 and named it “hexuronic acid.” It was later renamed ascorbic acid.!
How did ancient sailors combat scurvy before the discovery of vitamin C?
Ancient sailors consumed onions and citrus fruits to prevent scurvy, unknowingly ingesting vitamin C.
What is the significance of April 4th in relation to vitamin C?
April 4th is celebrated as National Vitamin C Day, established to raise awareness about the benefits of vitamin C.
Can vitamin C prevent the common cold?
While vitamin C supports the immune system, studies show it doesn’t significantly reduce the risk of catching a cold for most people.
Which fruit contains more vitamin C than oranges?
Guava contains higher concentrations of vitamin C than oranges, making it a superior source of the vitamin.
How did the Inuit prevent scurvy without consuming fruits?
The Inuit diet, rich in raw meat, provided sufficient vitamin C, preventing scurvy despite a lack of fruits.
What role did vitamin C play in early photography?
Vitamin C, combined with instant coffee and washing soda, was used to develop black and white film, showcasing its versatility beyond nutrition.
Learn About National Vitamin C Day
National Vitamin C Day has been created so that we can appreciate and learn all about the different ways that vitamin C can benefit our health. Vitamin C is also referred to as ascorbate and ascorbic acid. It is found in a number of different foods, as well as being sold as a dietary supplement.
It is an essential nutrient in terms of producing a number of neurotransmitters and repairing tissues. It was discovered back in 1912. Sixteen years later, it was isolated. Then, in 1933, it became the first vitamin to be produced chemically.
Vitamin C is widely recognized for helping to keep colds at bay. However, there are plenty of other benefits that are associated with this powerful vitamin! You could reduce your blood pressure by upping your vitamin C uptake, for example.
This important vitamin is also beneficial in terms of helping to keep your skin healthy. This is because it protects it from the oxidative damage that is caused as a result of exposure on a daily basis to pollution, heat, and light. This has seen the population of vitamin C products increase considerably.
There are plenty of natural ways to add some more vitamin C to your diet. You don’t need to opt for vitamin C supplements, although many people do.
Some of the fruits that have the highest sources of vitamin C include cantaloupe melon, citrus juices and fruits, kiwi fruit, pineapple, papaya, mango, and the various berries, such as cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. There are also a number of vegetables that are rich in vitamin C as well, including cauliflower and broccoli.
History of National Vitamin C Day
As a substance occurring naturally in countless different fruits and vegetables, vitamin C has likely been around as long as the earth itself.
People from all over the world have long been aware of the extensive health benefits of consuming foods high in vitamin C as well as the risks associated with not consuming enough of it, one of which is scurvy.
It was not until the late 19th century that scurvy was described in detail by British physician Sir Thomas Barlow, that people began to understand just how much this substance can do for our health. However, scurvy was known for thousands of years prior, with even the great Hippocrates himself writing about it.
In the 18th century, it is assumed that the disease killed more British sailors than any enemies they had and was one of the greatest factors limiting maritime travel over the ages. Today, very few people suffer from scurvy and Vitamin C is considered on of the most important nutrients food can and should provide.
National VItamin C Day is here to celebrate all that this amazing nutrient has to offer! This event was started in 2019 by SkinCeuticals to celebrate the research and benefits of Vitamin C.
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