We asked nutrition and immunity experts from the International Food Information Council our top, burning questions about vitamin C, one of the most well-known immunity-boosting nutrients. Here’s everything you should know about this important vitamin, including how it benefits your immune system, how much you need everyday, how much is too much, and the healthiest, high-vitamin C foods to eat. “Also of note: Vitamin C used to be listed on the nutrition facts label, but is no longer required since, on average, most Americans consume enough vitamin C each day,” Meyer says. RELATED: 5 Healthy Foods That Are High in Vitamin D (and Why It’s So Important to Eat Them)
red bell peppers broccoli Brussels sprouts cabbage cauliflower potatoes spinach tomatoes and tomato juice citrus fruits and citrus juice, such as oranges and grapefruits cantaloupe strawberries
Here are more delicious ways to eat lots of vitamin C. Webster explains that more vitamin C isn’t necessarily better because the body can absorb only a few hundred milligrams of it at a time. Again, the RDA for vitamin C is 75 milligrams for women and 90 milligrams for men, and “any amount above this is excreted in the urine,” she says. However, if you’re taking certain medications, you’ll need to be extra cautious with vitamin C supplements. “Vitamin C supplements may interact with several types of medications such as statins, chemotherapy, and radiation,” Meyer says. “Regardless of your medical history and dosages, everyone should be sure to consult with their healthcare provider before taking vitamin C supplements.”
