Vitamin C

One of vitamin C’s many important roles in the body is converting food and drinks into energy and helping to absorb other vitamins and minerals.

If you need a boost, taking a vitamin C supplement or eating a diet rich in vitamin C sources might help your energy levels, alertness and focus.

Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli, strawberries, brussels sprouts and potatoes.

Whilst taking a vitamin C supplement won’t prevent you from catching a cold or flu virus, it may play an important role in helping you to feel better.

Taking a vitamin C supplement every day, or making sure you’re getting enough through your diet, may help to shorten the amount of time you’re sick.

You should, however, aim to keep your vitamin C levels at an adequate level all the time, not just when you’ve got a cold.

You should start to notice vitamin C working in as little as 24 hours if you’re looking to reduce the symptoms and length of a cold.

If you’re taking vitamin C for your skin or well-being, you may begin to notice a change in 3 weeks.

Vitamin C is well known for its benefits to your immune system, with many stocking up on orange juice when cold and flu season rolls around.

It works as an antioxidant, helping to protect your cells from oxidative stress and encouraging wound healing.

It also helps your body to maintain your skin, bones blood vessels, and cartilage.

The problem is, your body doesn’t keep store Vitamin C for very long, so it’s important to ensure that you get enough of it every day, whether this is through your diet or vitamin supplements.