Vitamin C has other effects beyond the immune boosting powers most attributed to it. Discounting testosterone raising effects in humans which help build more muscle, it also has many functions within your body which go hand-in-hand with post-exercise recovery. Our health nut, IVY MULUKA, gives advice on benefits of vitamin C for better work out recovery.
Staying fit is as crucial as the heart pumping blood throughout the body and the brain functioning to maintain balance in our body. Being fit is the least we can do and exercising serves as the perfect escape to stay fit. Staying fit is the best Preventive care one can undertake to stay away at a safe distance from them. Vitamin C can benefit athletes and exercise enthusiasts since their training cause collective tissue damage.
As an antioxidant, Vitamin C could help reverse the oxidative caused by free radicals, which are by-products of chemical reactions, injury and stress within your body as well as external pollutants such as smoke and alcohol. Free radicals cause oxidative damage within the body, which are thought to increase the rate of ageing and increase the risk of disease
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Exercise itself actually causes increased oxidative stress because free radicals are made when your body converts food into energy, as well as when your muscles experience tiny micro tears due to the stress placed on them by movement. The benefits of exercise outweigh the harm caused by this free radical production, but it demonstrates how important it is to have the right nutrition in place to support your exercise regime with antioxidants.
Another benefit of vitamin C when you exercise is a possible reduction in muscle soreness post-workout. Taking vitamin C for a period of two weeks before heavy exercise significantly reduces muscle soreness. It has also shown to reduce cortisol, ‘stress hormone’ which is released during exercise, levels after heavy physical exertion. vitamin C intake helps with protein metabolism, so you’ll get the most out of that post-exercise protein-filled meal or shake.
The antioxidant properties in Vitamin C are needed for the absorption of iron, which helps boost energy and also forms collagen, the abundant protein that builds your skin, tendons and muscles. As a result, this supports your body’s muscle growth and tissue repair, which is especially important after exercise.
