Whenever we fall sick, our first instinct is to reach for some vitamin C to give our immune system some support. But apart from maintaining a healthy immune system, did you know that vitamin C boasts many other health benefits too?

Our bodies require energy for virtually everything that we do — from getting out of bed in the morning to a rigorous workout in the gym, and everything else in between. And even though getting sufficient sleep and nutrients from a balanced diet is essential in maintaining your energy level, sometimes you might need extra help. And that’s where vitamin C comes in.

Read on to find out how vitamin C supports your energy levels, and how you can achieve it through a balanced diet and supplements.

Overview of vitamin C benefits

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient that our body requires to function properly. It’s most often acquired through the food we eat — as a water-soluble substance it’s not easily dissolved, but our bodies absorb it so rapidly that we need to replenish it on a daily basis.

Apart from notably providing support for a healthy immune system, vitamin C is also involved in many body functions such as the formation of collagen, absorption of iron, wound healing, and the maintenance of bones, joints and teeth. It also helps to maintain liver function and brain health.

With so many benefits mentioned, you definitely want to be keeping track of your vitamin C intake to keep your body strong and healthy!

Can vitamin C give you energy?

Considering how vitamin C helps support healthy immune function, a deficiency in it can lead to increased instances of infection, further development of new or existing medical conditions, as well as impair the body’s ability to recover from injury.

In addition to this, vitamin C also benefits our energy levels by maintaining and supporting energy production. How, you ask? Vitamin C works closely with the mitochondria, the part of the cell that produces energy.

Vitamin C plays a critical role in the transport of fatty acids necessary for generating metabolic energy. It’s also a critical nutrient needed to maintain mitochondrial health, so that your mitochondria can continue producing energy at an optimum rate. Without vitamin C supporting mitochondrial health, you would suffer from low moods and insufficient energy — which can potentially be exacerbated by conditions brought about by winter.

A lack of vitamin C can affect various aspects of your life. It may become doubly difficult to sustain productivity at work or school, socialise, make time for exercise, or simply enjoy your day-to-day lives. And that’s definitely not something you want.

Recommended sources of vitamin C for energy

Below are some of the sources of vitamin C that you can opt for to get an energy boost:

A well-rounded and healthy diet

Our bodies get most of the vitamins it needs from the food we eat. With a balanced diet, you can provide your body with sufficient nutrients to stay healthy. Here’s a helpful list of foods that you can always have ready at home, and perhaps consider stocking up on them during the winter, when you need more vitamin C for energy.

Animal products
Go beyond meat and poultry if you want to reap the benefits of vitamin C. Most traditional animal meats do not contain sufficient amounts of vitamin C. However, other animal products such as liver, kidney, fish roe, and eggs are great sources of vitamin C.

Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamin C for energy. But here’s a fun fact — you might want to ditch that orange for better options when it comes to fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C content. Surprisingly, other fruits such as kiwis, lemons, grapefruits, most berries, and papayas have higher vitamin C content than oranges.

As for vegetables — capsicums, tomatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, and cauliflower make great options to be included in your balanced diet.

Supplementation

While having a balanced diet daily is the ideal way to get all the nutrients you need, you may face challenges due to dietary or lifestyle restrictions that limit the kinds of food you can eat. But fret not, because vitamin C supplements are a readily available, convenient, and safe alternative. It should not replace a well-rounded diet — but can work well when paired with one that suits your lifestyle or dietary restrictions.

If you have no idea where to get your vitamin C supplements from, you can start with Vitable. And here’s the thing — we don’t just have vitamin C supplements to give you an energy boost, we also offer customised multivitamin subscription packs! Get a supplement plan personalised to your own health needs and goals — all you have to do is complete a short online quiz.

These home-compostable daily packs will be delivered straight to your doorstep monthly, for fuss-free ease in getting your vitamin intake sorted. Made from premium quality ingredients backed by science and proudly made in Australia, there’s no reason to say no to Vitable.

Find out more about other supplements that can help you with energy:

Iron | Ashwagandha | Magnesium | B complex | Acetyl L-carnitine | Vitamin C | Vitamin B12

*Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional. Vitamin and/or mineral supplements should not replace a balanced diet.