Can the Body Store Vitamin C

About Vitamin C

There are many interesting facts about Vitamin C, including its many benefits for bodily health. Also known as ascorbic acid, this nutrient helps repair bones and cartilage as well as ensures their healthy growth.

Vitamin C also has strong antioxidant properties that protect cells and defend against infections, and in fact many people take steps for preventing colds with Vitamin C. The nutrient is also essential for the proper absorption of iron into the bloodstream, which significantly impacts the blood’s ability to rejuvenate and oxygenate cells.

Recommended Dosage

The recommended dosage of Vitamin C varies based on a person’s age, general health, and other dietary concerns, but typically ranges between 40 and 1,000 milligrams per day. Not getting enough Vitamin C can result in easier, stronger infections due to a weakened immune system as well as pale skin, bleeding gums, slow wound recovery, and even depression.

At the same time, it is recommended that individuals not consume more than 2,000 milligrams of Vitamin C each day. Too much of the nutrient can result in overdose toxicity, which has symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, indigestion, insomnia, and an increased risk of kidney stones.

Can the Body Store Vitamin C? No!

The toxicity of Vitamin C may seem alarming, but it is relatively rare except in cases when individuals are deliberately taking mega doses of the vitamin, because the body cannot store Vitamin C. Most vitamins are fat soluble, meaning they bond with fat molecules and can be stored in the body’s organs (particularly the liver and kidneys), tissues, or blood for long periods of time.

Vitamin C, on the other hand, is actually water soluble and bonds instead to water that is flushed out of the body via the urine rather quickly. A large dose of Vitamin C may, in fact, be significantly depleted in only a few hours depending on an individual’s metabolic rates.

Planning a Vitamin C Diet

Eat Vitamin C foods daily.

Because the body cannot store Vitamin C, it is important to plan a diet with foods high in Vitamin C so the body has a ready supply of the nutrient at all times. Fortunately, Vitamin C is an abundant nutrient found in most fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus fruits, berries, potatoes, and broccoli.

The best way to incorporate plenty of Vitamin C into a daily diet is to include at least one food with the nutrient at every meal – orange juice in the morning, parsley on a lunch sandwich, and a baked potato with dinner will ensure an ongoing replenishment of the nutrient for all the body’s Vitamin C needs. For even more convenience, Vitamin C is often added to fortified cereals and other processed foods.

Additional Vitamin C Sources

If an individual has difficulty ingesting enough Vitamin C from natural food sources due to allergies, personal preferences, or other dietary concerns, the nutrient is available in a wide range of supplemental forms, including capsules, tablets, powders, and lozenges. Large dose Vitamin C caplets are also available in time-release forms to ensure an adequate dosage without the potential toxicity effects of overdosing on the nutrient.

Very small amounts of Vitamin C are even available in non-food products such as skin lotions and lip balm. While these products cannot deliver an adequate daily supply of the nutrient, regular use of Vitamin C enriched products can help maintain a nutrient balance in the body when supplies begin to deplete.

Can the body store Vitamin C? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Instead, a diet that regularly includes foods rich in Vitamin C throughout the day will ensure an adequate supply of the nutrient for all its vital functions, leading to the exceptional health that comes from a proper dietary balance.