From wound healing to immune health, Vitamin C offers a slew of benefits. But did you know this essential vitamin plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and digestive system?

Keep reading as we explore three ways Vitamin C can support your gut health. (It’s not just for sniffly noses!)

1. Strengthens Gut Lining
   The gut lining serves as a protective barrier, preventing harmful substances from entering the bloodstream while allowing essential nutrients to be absorbed. Vitamin C plays a huge role in maintaining the integrity of this barrier. Research suggests that Vitamin C enhances collagen production, a protein vital for the structural integrity of the gut lining. A study published in the National Library of Medicine demonstrates that Vitamin C supplementation promotes the synthesis of collagen and, in turn, strengthens the gut epithelial barrier. This reinforcement helps prevent the leakage of toxins and pathogens into the bloodstream, reducing the risk of inflammation and digestive discomfort.
   
   
2. Helps Prevent Gut Disease
   Our bodies create free radicals, those sneaky unstable molecules that can wreak havoc on our cells. But if your antioxidant game is strong, you’ve got less to worry about. Otherwise, these free radicals can cause excessive oxidative stress, leading to disease. However, since Vitamin C is an awesome antioxidant, it can zap free radicals and combat oxidative stress. So, it’s great for your digestive system and general health.
   
   
3. Improves Gut Diversity
   Your gut craves variety. It’s home to hundreds of bacterial strains that all have unique health benefits. Diseases like type 2 diabetes and IBD can mess with that diversity. In general, diversity preserves healthy gut function, and this is where C comes to the rescue.  It can help gut health by impacting the balance between good and bad bacteria in your microbiome. EatingWell.com reported on one 2021 study in which 1,000 participants took 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C daily, showing beneficial shifts in bacterial strain diversity. Incorporating Vitamin C-rich foods into your diet can thus help promote gut diversity and support overall gut health.

Boosting Your Vitamin C Intake

Boosting your Vitamin C intake is simple and can be achieved through dietary modifications. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are renowned for their high Vitamin C content and make delicious additions to your meals and snacks. Additionally, incorporating other fruits like strawberries, kiwis, and papayas into your diet can help meet your Vitamin C requirements. Vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are also excellent sources of Vitamin C. Aim to include a variety of Vitamin C-rich foods in your daily meals to ensure adequate intake.

Are you eager for more information on Vitamin C's other benefits? Visit What You Need to Know About Vitamin C. You may strive to eat tons of Vitamin C-rich foods but need to catch up. Supplementation is a great option here. But here’s the thing: Vitamin C is useless if your body doesn’t absorb it efficiently.

That’s why we recommend Liposomal Vitamin C. It’s an antioxidant-rich supplement that utilizes liposomal technology to help promote the bioavailability of Vitamin C.† 

If you still have questions about Vitamin C, contact our knowledgeable customer service crew, M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (800) 940-1972 or support@zenwise.com.

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10436623/

2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8389205/