Benefits of Vitamin C for Muscle Mass
For sure, Vitamin C is one of the vitamins most consumed by people, either through diet or in supplements, and the good thing about this is that it is a nutrient that has great benefits for muscle mass and health in general. All vitamins are essential for important body functions, they cannot be synthesized by the body, so it is necessary to include them in the diet. The good news is that it is not such a complicated job, because many of the foods we already consume contain them. If you are interested in knowing the benefits of vitamin C for muscle mass, we will tell you about them later, but first, we want to explain its function in the body.
What is the function of vitamin C?
Vitamin C or also known as ascorbic acid is an excellent antioxidant, it collaborates in the functions of collagen formation, healing, and defense of the organism. It is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that it dissolves in water and that any excess that the body does not use is eliminated in the urine.
Studies and specialists indicate that the body needs vitamin C to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscles, and collagen in the body.
They are protective of cells against free radicals, which are unstable molecules that appear in certain situations, such as exposure to tobacco smoke or the sun.
These unstable molecules begin to affect other molecules, such as DNA, proteins, and lipids, this damage can increase the risk of cancer or other diseases. That is to say, it is totally important to maintain the adequate consumption of this vitamin to avoid the appearance of some diseases.
With this prior knowledge, let’s talk about the benefits of vitamin C in the development of muscle mass and how it can positively affect our sports goals.
Vitamin C Benefits for Muscle Health and Muscle Mass
1. Collaborates with muscle development: this is an indirect benefit of vitamin C since what it does is collaborate with the synthesis of carnitine, which is a fuel for muscle fiber. If you want to know more about carnitine you can find out here.
2. Collaborates with tissue repair: studies indicate that vitamin C can benefit and contribute to tissue repair, thanks to its healing function, especially after training.
3. Collaborates with preventing muscle breakdown: vitamin C allows the body to obtain a better absorption of iron, which is useful for oxygenation of the blood, providing a regulation of oxygen levels in muscle mass, which is very important to avoid degradation.
What Foods Contain Vitamin C?
Here is a list of foods that contain vitamin C, if you are not consuming them, we recommend adding them to your diet to help you achieve the sporting goals that you have set for yourself.
- Kiwi
- Orange
- Pomelo
- Red and green bell peppers
- Strawberry
- Cantaloupe
- Broccoli
- Baked potatoes
Vitamin C Supplements
Another very common way to get the perfect dose of vitamin C is through supplements that contain this nutrient. These are very useful if you do not consume many foods that we mentioned, or that it is difficult for you to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. There are several types of vitamin C supplements on the market, you can even get it in conjunction with other vitamins through multivitamins.
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