You may have noticed online that many health and supplement sites are recommending taking vitamin C along with your collagen supplement. Why is this the case? What are the benefits of vitamin C.? Can you still get the benefit of your collagen supplement if you are not taking vitamin C? Here are some of the things that you need to know so that you can make an informed decision.
What Is Vitamin C and Where Do We Get It?
Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid. It is a nutrient that humans require for many different processes, as well will discuss in a moment. It is important to note that the human body does not produce any vitamin C on its own. This is different from some of the other nutrients that we require. Therefore, it is a necessity to get this vitamin in our diet.
Since vitamin C is present in many fruits, vegetables, and especially in leafy greens, it is possible to get the recommended amount of vitamin C each day without a supplement. However, if you are not getting enough vitamin C, there are also supplements available. We will get to the recommended daily amount in a few moments.
How Does Vitamin C Support Collagen in the Body?
Vitamin C is crucial for many of the body’s activities. For example, it helps the body to be able to heal correctly. This includes the formation of everything from blood vessels to muscle tissue. Vitamin C also helps the body to produce collagen naturally.
For men, the recommendation is to get 90 milligrams of vitamin C per day. For women, the recommendation is 75 milligrams. This should optimize the body’s ability to produce collagen. However, even with the body producing as much collagen as it can, there is still a need for supplementation. Why is this the case?
Why Take a Collagen Supplement?
Collagen is necessary for your skin, hair, nails, joints, cartilage, and even your organs. When we are young, our bodies produce more than enough collagen. However, as we age, we produce less and need more to repair damage to the body. By our 20s, we are already beginning to run a collagen deficit. A supplement can help you to get the collagen that you need to have the basic building blocks for repairing your body. A collagen supplement that has the amino acids your body needs in a bioavailable format is best so that your body can absorb and use these building blocks.
Can Vitamin C Improve Your Collagen Supplement?
In reality, the two will work independently. Your collagen supplement will provide your body with some of the essential amino acids and proteins that it needs. The vitamin C will help your body to maximize the amount of collagen it can output on its own. There is nothing wrong with taking both supplements.
Is There Any Reason to Avoid Taking Vitamin C?
Not really. The main thing is that you shouldn’t need it if you are eating a healthy diet. Remember how little vitamin C the body needs each day. A man only needs 90 mg per day, but most supplements provide 500 or even 1,000 mg! Basically, the majority of these supplements come out in our urine – which actually leads to a secondary reason to be careful about vitamin C supplements.
If you get kidney stones, having too much vitamin C may contribute to their formation. Vitamin C that goes unused can produce oxalate in the kidneys. Most people who get kidney stones get the calcium-oxalate form, which occurs when excess calcium and oxalate meet up in the kidneys. In fact, one study revealed that after just six days of taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C per day, oxalate levels in urine could increase by 20%.
The truth is that you just don’t need that high of a dose of vitamin C, most of it gets excreted, and it is more important to increase fruit and veggie intake (which will get you all the vitamin C you need anyway).
Will My Collagen Supplement Still Help Me?
Yes, you can get the full benefits from your collagen supplement without adding a vitamin C supplement to your regimen. Vitamin C is clearly essential, but it is best to get it through your regular diet. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water because vitamin C is water-soluble, not fat-soluble like most other vitamins.
However, vitamin C and collagen supplements are mutually exclusive. You don’t need one to get the full benefits of the other. They are two different routes toward the same goal that work in harmony with one another but do not impact each other in any way. So don’t forget to keep taking your collagen supplements, even if you are getting plenty of vitamin C in your diet.
If you are looking for a collagen supplement that has the amino acids you need in a bioavailable form, Warrior Strong Wellness is here to help. We have two collagen supplements with unique amino acid makeups to provide your body with the proteins it needs for good health and healing.
You can check the shop for the supplements you need, or you can try the protein power pack to get both collagen protein supplements along with a frother for the convenient blending of the products into hot or cold beverages.
About The Author
Warrior Strong Wellness
Warrior Strong Wellness provides innovative and high quality transformational supplements and raises awareness and funds to fight childhood cancer by giving a portion of our proceeds to childhood cancer research. In our weekly blogs, we share wisdom about wellness and living a Warrior Strong lifestyle.