Add vitamin C to your diet for 5 skin benefits
Remember I covered 10 things vitamin C can do for your skin awhile back? In that entry, I had looked at most of the benefits from using vitamin C topically. Interestingly, I’ve read that oral consumption of vitamin C does nothing for our skin. However, I found some studies that state otherwise. So I thought I’ll just list them here as food for your consideration.
Personally, I consume quite a cocktail of vitamin C daily in the form of a cup of vitamin C drink with Madre Labs Madre-C first thing each morning and fresh fruits like orange and pineapple sometime later in the day. I really feel uncomfortable when I do not take my daily does of vitamin C. It could be all in my mind but I rather take more than less because vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and hence, my body can’t store it. I also like to think that it does something for my skin—the more specific benefits I’ll discuss below.
1. Helps prevent dry skin
Higher intakes of dietary vitamin C have been correlated with a decreased risk of dry skin, suggesting that ascorbic acid may have effects on trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) (source).
2. Helps prevent skin wrinkling
Higher intakes of vitamin C from the diet were associated with better skin appearance, with notable decreases in skin wrinkling (source).
3. Helps fight off damage from free radicals
Vitamin C as an antioxidant can block some of the damage caused by free radicals, substances that damage DNA. Multiple studies have found that oral supplementation of vitamin C with a combination of vitamin E effectively protects against UV-induced damage caused by free radicals (source).
4. Helps provide photoprotection
Oral supplementation with vitamin C may help prevent UV-induced damage, especially in combination with supplemental vitamin E. Dietary vitamin C may also provide photoprotection (source), but the extent of the protective effects may not be as good as when the vitamin is used topically.
5. Helps build skin collagen
Vitamin C is an important nutrient to enhance collagen synthesis (source).
Some of the studies appear to be limited so do note that these benefits may not be widely endorsed. I also came across some suggesting that taking 1000mg to 3000mg of vitamin C orally can brighten the skin tone but I couldn’t find any studies to support that claim. In any case, I still think that taking vitamin C daily does help our skin somewhat but the effects are not as astounding when compared to applying vitamin C onto our skin topically.
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This is very informative, Ewa! I’m always taking Vitamin C supplements and I never thought it has great effects on my skin. Anyway, I would love to try Madre-C. Thanks for sharing this article.
In my case, it’s true that when I take 1k – 3k Vit C for many days, my skin looks much healthier. But because it’s water-soluble, I prefer to break it up like you (one in the morning and one in the afternoon/night). I learned of that trick after taking brightening supplements for awhile. I noticed that almost all of them, or at least those that worked for me, had to be taken 3x a day.
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I have started taking wolfberries infused with warm water again. I was told wolfberries also contains Vit C.
I love vitamin C, didn’t know it helped build collagen though – that’s pretty cool ?
It’s said to help so worth a try. Anyway, it’s something we need in our bodies too.
Oh wolfberries are great! But I usually only eat them cooked in dishes.
Glad to hear it helped your skin look healthier. And thanks for highlighting the benefits of breaking up the intake!
I love Madre-C. I’ve just ordered the 3rd can.
Can supplement (Vit C) be drank with alkaline water? Does it null its effect as I know that medicine cannot be taken with alkaline water?
Thanks in advance.
This is an interesting question and I don’t know the answer. I haven’t thought about this and it’s definitely worth checking out.
Hi
Am planning to buy Madre C , normally u just mix it with water or with other beverages?
Need more option when I take these. Thanks
I just mix with water. But you can add with other beverages if you like. The taste is slightly sour.
Me too, I have been taking 1000 – 1500mg of vitamin c for 3 months and noticed my skin got brighter and it keeps my skin clear. I also break it up, literally, into pieces so I take half a tablet in the morning and half again in the afternoon and then a whole before I sleep along with vitamin e. I’ve read somewhere that 500mg taken at once is too much and the excess is just peed away. Some days when I lack sleep and feel too lazy to break it, I just take one after each meal. But do take note that you have to drink lots of water if you do this since I’ve heard it can cause kidney stones. I’m planning to stay at 500mg a day after 2 weeks for maintenance.
I haven’t been taking pure vitamin C these days though…have been taking a supplement that promises brightening and it contains vitamin C.