Vitamin C – ‘It Does A Body Good’ Inside & Out!

January 3, 2008

Vitamin C (or L-Ascorbic acid) is a very powerful, water soluble, anti-oxidant that helps fight the effects of free radicals in the body. Free radicals can harm the immune system and damage the body on a cellular level.

Vitamin C also helps increase the production of white blood cells and acts as a defense against viruses and bacteria. Fortunately, Vitamin C is contained in many common everyday fruits and vegetables such as pineapples, oranges, limes, strawberries, tomatoes, and green peppers.

As we look at the subjects of skin care, anti-aging, and wrinkle prevention, it’s clear that Vitamin C plays an important role in the health and appearance of our skin. Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen, which works together with keratin to provide the skin with strength and flexibility. The breakdown of collagen in the skin leads to the fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin that we all want to avoid.

Vitamin C can help us in two distinct ways in the fight against wrinkles. The first is to make sure that we are getting the Minimum RDA for Vitamin C in our daily diet. This will make sure that there is enough available for the body to produce collagen and the anti-oxidant properties will assist in fighting free radicals in our body which can damage the cells of the skin itself.

The second is the use of Vitamin C as a topical agent applied directly to the skin. It is one of the few products on the market today whose effectiveness against wrinkles and fine lines is well documented and backed by scientific evidence and clinical research. The body limits how much dietary Vitamin C is actually delivered to the skin, so using it externally allows us to get it absorbed directly in to the skin in much higher concentrations.

One thing to keep in mind is that Vitamin C undergoes oxidation when exposed to air, which can dramatically reduce the positive effects it can have. It may actually become harmful to the skin because oxidized Vitamin C can actually increase the formation of free radicals – one of the very things that we are trying to counteract.

There are several derivatives of Vitamin C that are more stable and have some or all of the positive benefits of pure Vitamin C. One of these is ascorbyl palmitate which is a fat soluable derivative and used in a wide variety of skin care products. It is not as good as pure Vitamin C in boosting collagen synthesis, but it has other benefits including protecting the skin from certain types of free radical damage.

The other derivative that is becoming popular is magnesium ascorbyl phosphate which is becoming increasingly available in a variety of skin care products. Studies have shown that it is as effective as pure Vitamin C is increasing collagen synthesis, and can do so in much lower concentrations. It also appears to be very good for people with sensitive skin since it is nowhere near as acidic as many Vitamin C products and therefore much gentler on the skin itself.

The bottom line is that Vitamin C can be one the best weapons in your arsenal for preventing fine lines and wrinkles. Daily use prior to putting on your morning moisturizer will go a long way in in fighting the battle against aging. Dramatic effects can be seen in as little as three months of steady use. Remember that whatever Vitamin C product you use, it loses its effectiveness when exposed to light and air so make sure that the container seals tightly and does not allow light to penetrate.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me here or send me an e-mail at JustAsk@Walk2bFit.com.

~ Bri

Posted in Beauty Expert, Skin Care Tips