As you know, I'm a self-proclaimed health and wellness nerd. I like to read wellness articles with the same voraciousness that some read trashy romance novels.
- Citrus fruits
- Kiwi fruit
- Strawberries
- Green and Red Peppers - raw
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Spinach
We’ve all heard a lot about Vitamin C through the years and I would bet that most of us reach for some C in the winter when we feel a cold coming on. The full range of benefits of Vitamin C is so far reaching that it would be impossible to cover and explain them all in this short blog.
For example, research shows Vitamin C
- Decreases incidence of age-related cataracts
- Decreases incidence of exercise-induced asthma
- Improves blood lipid profiles
- Protects arteries from plaque formation
- Speeds wound healing
- Boosts collagen production
- Reduces risk for hypertension
- Improves some cancer outcomes
- Enhances tendon, ligament and bone repair
But what caught my eye and prompted this blog was discovering the relationship between Vitamin C, Stress and Belly Fat…
Sounds interesting right? Here’s the scoop:
I’m confident that if I asked you “What causes your stress?”, you could list at least a handful of situations, if not more. The fact is that in the course of our everyday lives we encounter a great deal of stress, ranging from traffic congestion, family matters, financial issues, job pressures, lack of sleep and the news, just to name a few.
What happens to our bodies when we’re stressed?
When we experience stress (real or imagined) our brains initiate a cascade of reactions which we’ve come to know as the “fight or flight” response. These reactions lead to the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands which sit on top of our kidneys and look like little monk’s hoods. When stimulated, the monk’s hoods (a.k.a. adrenal glands) secrete cortisol – the stress hormone.
Cortisol revs us up. I’m sure you’ve experience that feeling when you’ve been on high-alert! The problem is that in our society of constant stress, the poor adrenals don’t get a break. They get tired of constantly pumping cortisol – hence then name, Adrenal Fatigue.
The adrenals help your body regulate body fat. In fact, the stress-adrenal connection can cause your body to layer on belly fat - and keep it there!
What does this have to do with today’s hero, Vitamin C?
According to AdrenalFatigueRecovery.com:
- The highest concentration of Vitamin C is stored in those monk’s hoods (now you know what they keep in there!).
- Vitamin C is used to make hormones - especially cortisol. So, when you’re experiencing stress, you are rapidly using up Vitamin C stores.
- Ironically, this causes the adrenals themselves to panic, causing them to produce more cortisol. This contributes to high blood sugar, high blood pressure and the frightful belly fat!
- The reduced Vitamin C also impacts your immune system, causing you to be more susceptible to colds etc., causing more stress and – yep, you guessed it – belly fat.
Dietary Vitamin C helps your liver to produce enzymes that help detox environmental/chemical stressors as well as replenish your poor, tired adrenals. This, along with sensible stress management techniques like mindful movement, healthy breathing and meditation, will calm your adrenals. They can breathe a sigh of relief, stop the incessant pumping of cortisol and -Voila! - allow your body to give up that belly fat!
So, there you have it in as condensed a version as I can possibly make it. If you are eager to learn more about Vitamin C, it’s health benefits and the cortisol connection, you can start with
https://AdrenalFatigueRecovery.com. Also check out the Linus Pauling Institute at https://lpi.oregonstate.edu.
A quick note on dosing.
The RDA for Vitamin C is quite low and was determined as the baseline intake in order to prevent scurvy. The health benefits I’ve mentioned in this blog have been researched using significantly higher amounts of Vitamin C. Because Vitamin C is water soluble, most people can take higher doses (e.g. 500-1500 mg/day) with no problems. However, some people experience digestive upset with Vitamin C, and some folks who are prone to kidney stones shouldn’t take high doses. If you have concerns about what’s right for you, be sure to check with your health care provider.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this exploration to our humble, yet noble, Vitamin C.
Until next time,
Be well my friends!
p.s. Back to National Nutrition Month – MANY of the foods that contain Vitamin C also have lots of other great nutrients, including fiber, B-vitamins, and iron. Eating a diet rich in colorful vegetables and fruits will help your Vitamin C levels stay constant and contribute to your total health and well-being in a multitude of ways. So, grab a fork, eat your colors and Be Well!