Is Vitamin C As Effective As Exercise?

A recent University of Colorado study (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150904144604.htm) compared the daily use of vitamin C supplements to daily walking in a group of 35 sedentary, overweight individuals.

Blood flow was measured before and after each alternate remedy. The results suggest that daily supplementation of vitamin C (500 mg/day) can have similar cardiovascular benefits as regular exercise in these adults.

In addition to this current study, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a review of 29 research trials (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3325833/) on people with high blood pressure and concluded that vitamin C has a useful role in lowering it.

Vitamin C also strengthens bones and teeth, heals wounds, fights infections, smooths skin wrinkles (by helping to make collagen), supports eye health, and improves immune system.

The researchers suggest that vitamin C supplementation represents an effective lifestyle strategy in overweight and obese adults, especially those who avoid exercise.

As the study suggests, vitamin C can be very beneficial to your health. However, you don’t necessarily need to take supplements. You can get a lot of it by eating plenty of vitamin C rich foods like oranges, kiwi fruit, lemons, mangoes, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, cranberries, bell peppers, cabbage, broccoli, and kale.

You may also consider taking a natural vitamin C supplement, for example, amla berry (http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/jul252001/185.pdf) or camu-camu berry (http://www.ceinfo.cnpat.embrapa.br/arquivos/artigo_1581.pdf) , instead of synthetic ascorbic acid.

In the age of instant gratification where people want results fast with minimum effort, there’s no wonder why this study has taken the Internet by storm. People like to hear that they can do something as simple and easy as popping a vitamin C pill instead of exercising.

However, I think it’s important to remember that exercise has far more benefits than just cardiovascular health. It helps regulate hormones and maintain a healthy weight, strengthens the immune system, promotes better sleep, and boosts energy, productivity and mood.

In my opinion, vitamin C shouldn’t be a replacement for exercise, but rather an addition to a healthy lifestyle.