Vitamin C Day

By Jamie Shapiro | March 23, 2016 | Comments Off on Vitamin C Day

Caregiver in Des Plaines IL

As a caregiver you know how important it is to take care of your elderly parent’s health, but also to support your own health so that you can continue to offer the best care possible. April 4 is Vitamin C Day, a day set aside to raise awareness of this vita nutrient and encourage you to find more ways to incorporate it into your routine with your elderly loved one.

Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a well-known immunity booster. Warding off the sniffles is not the only thing that this vitamin does in your body, however. Getting enough of this vitamin supports a wide variety of functions in the body including:

  • Growth and repair of tissues throughout the entire body
  • Production of collagen for the use in cartilage, blood vessels, skin, ligaments, and tendons
  • Healing wounds
  • Repairing bones and teeth
  • Supporting bone and teeth health
  • Aiding in the absorption of iron
  • Blocking damage done throughout the body due to free radicals thanks to its antioxidant properties
  • Protect arteries against damage
  • Reduce the risk of developing certain cancers

 

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin. This means that unlike many other vitamins and other nutrients, it cannot be stored within the body. Instead, your body uses it when it is consumed. Though rare to actually experience a severe deficiency in this vitamin, many people consume low levels of the vitamin and can experience health consequences because of it. Some of the issues associated with not getting enough vitamin C include slow wound healing, increased susceptibility to infection and illness, slower recovery from infection or illness, and dry, rough skin.

In order to make sure that your body gets the vitamin C that it needs to function properly, it is important to consume foods rich in this vitamin on a regular basis. Foods such as broccoli and tomatoes contain high levels of vitamin C. If you want to get your Vitamin C Day, or any other day in your caregiver journey, off to a fantastic start, however, a smoothie is the way to go. This fresh, sweet, and delicious smoothie offers a strong punch of vitamin C thanks to all of the fruits, as well as protein and dietary fiber. Serve it in a thermos for a delicious breakfast on the run.

 

What You Will Need

  • 1/2 of a cup of almond milk
  • 1/2 of a cup of fresh pineapple
  • 1/2 of a cup of fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 of an orange
  • 1 large carrot
  • 1/2 of a lemon’s juice
  • A handful of ice
  • A blender
  • A sharp knife
  • A cutting board

 

What to Do

  • Stem and dice the strawberries and set aside
  • Peel and cut the orange into segments and set aside
  • Cut the carrot into 1/4 of an inch chunks and set aside
  • Place the pineapple and the carrot into the blender
  • Blend on high for 10 seconds
  • Add the strawberries and orange
  • Blend on high for 5 seconds
  • Add the lemon juice, ice, and almond milk to the blender
  • Blend on high until completely smooth
  • Serve chilled

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Des Plaines, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

Source:  https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-c-ascorbic-acid

Jamie Shapiro
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