Vitamin C

Let’s talk about our popular Vitamin, Vitamin C.

No doubt learned in primary school that its critical to preventing scurvy. Your family probably told you to take vitamin C to make sure you don’t catch a cold. Yes, vitamin C does prevent and cure scurvy. The research on preventing the common cold is a little less compelling, although there is good research that vitamin C will reduce the duration of a cold once you have it. 

Vitamin C does much more than that, though. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is involved in tissue repair and is also involved in the enzymatic reactions that produce some neurotransmitters, (the chemicals used by the neurons in your central nervous system to communicate). 

I advise anyone training with weights to have a source of Vitamin C after a workout, especially those who are Powerlifting. 

Most people think of citrus fruits as the best sources for vitamin C, but there are other great sources: potatoes, kiwis, and many other fruits and vegetables have high amounts. Supplementation is easy, cheap and common, so being deficient is rare. 

Link to Vitamin C’s link to your Central Nervous System. Earlier studies showed that vitamin C abolished secretion of cortisol in animals that had been subjected to repeated stress. Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Once it gets into the bloodstream, it is responsible for relaying the news of stress to all parts of the body and mind.

It’s essential to have a dose of Vitamin C after a busy day or a good workout, all though workouts are good for mental health, it is stress on the body. 

Your body Cannot store Vitamin C.