What are the risks and benefits of using vitamin C for depression and anxiety?
“In adults, emerging evidence suggests that consuming higher daily servings of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables is associated with lower levels of anxiety, greater happiness, greater life satisfaction, and social-emotional well-being,” according to a review in the journal. Nutrients. So, “to convince encouraging people to consume more fruits and vegetables can benefit not only their physical health in the long term, but also their mental well-being in the short term,” concluded a study in Social Sciences and Medicine. Consuming fruits, such as has a protective association with leading killers such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, as well as depression. The question is why?
Several mechanisms have been proposed. For example, some believe that it is the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the product that scavenge free radicals involved in some of the inflammation associated with depression. If so, what about taking vitamin C supplements? Brain has some of the highest levels of vitamin C in the body, so it is thought that if extra vitamin C is taken, it may have some sort of therapeutic role in brain diseases, especially given that it is Not only is it an antioxidant, but it also has other important functions in the brain, such as helping to make neurotransmitters like dopamine. But you won’t know if it really helps until you put it to the test.
A study found the beneficial effect of adding vitamin C as an adjunctive treatment to antidepressants, while other studies found there is no benefit from vitamin C supplementation.
So there are Mixed results for vitamin C and depression. Another study found There is no benefit when it comes to depression, but those randomized to vitamin C instead of placebo drugs showed a significant reduction in anxiety levels. And this was not only seen in that study.
Effects of vitamin C supplementation on anxiety in high school students learned in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Adolescents were given either 500 mg of vitamin C per day or a placebo. Your daily allowance of vitamin C is about what you’d find in five oranges, four yellow kiwis or guavas, or one and a half bell peppers. In just two weeks, vitamin C reduced anxiety levels compared to a placebo and also provided a significant reduction in heart rate.
Given this information shown that vitamin C can have an anxiety-reducing effect, researchers have tried to see if a single dose can affect the emotional state. And indeed, within just two hours of taking vitamin C, study participants experienced a significant reduction in anxiety compared to placebo, although only among those who started with the most anxiety in the first place, as you can see below and at 2:42 in my video. Do Vitamin C Supplements Help Anxiety?.
As a bonus, a vitamin C supplement can lower Our blood pressure is a few points, but all fruits and vegetables can to do is the same thing – and can even make it better for those who need it most, as shown below and at 2:53 in my video.
As I have shown before, simple to add Just two servings of fruit and vegetables a day can improve mental health for two weeks without the risk of kidney stones. related with vitamin C supplements, although this is only a problem in men.
Dr.’s comment
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