Amazing Benefits of Vitamin C Rich Foods for Relieving Stress and Weight LossMost everyone knows that Vitamin C is great for the immune system but new, exciting research shows it’s also helpful for relieving stress and even helping reducing weight as a direct result (1). Vitamin C works against C-Reactive Proteins that cause inflammation in the body, which can create tension and even cause weight gain. C- Reactive Proteins have been linked to heart disease due to the way they put chronic stress on the body and Vitamin C helps directly counteract the effects these proteins have (2).

Vitamin C works against C-Reactive Proteins That Lead to Stress and Weight Gain

But first, where does CRP come from and how does one prevent them from occurring? CRP’s occur in the body anytime the body senses it’s under stress, injury, inflammation, or infection. The immune system throws out defenses that are meant to protect the body but end up causing pain and inflammation as a result. C-Reactive Proteins are both a cause and marker of inflammation and often occur as a result from health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and chronic stress or fatigue (2).

Anytime you’re constantly exposed to chronic stress, the adrenal glands that are housed near your kidneys become fatigued, which lead to adrenal burnout. Adrenal fatigue has been linked to weight gain, diabetes, chronic yeast overgrowth, and a weakened immune system (3, 5). Many people with adrenal fatigue crave sugar, fat, and caffeine because the body is crying out for a quick source of energy (5). Since Vitamin C lowers stress in the body, along with insulin sensitivity, it also lowers the stress hormone linked to weight gain, known as cortisol, as direct effect. Over time, a diet rich in Vitamin C can directly help you keep weight off or lose weight when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet (3).

What’s are the best sources of Vitamin C?

Vitamin C-rich foods such as: kiwis, oranges, berries, apples, leafy greens such as spinach and kale, romaine lettuce, lemons, limes, and superfood berries such as goji, camu-camu-, mulberries, and goldenberries, are all some of the best sources of Vitamin C you can eat to protect your body against C-Reactive Proteins since they’re richer in Vitamin C than other food sources (4). Fermented sauerkraut and kimchi are also great sources (5).

The highest source of Vitamin C in the world is camu-camu berries and these tart, tangy berries are commonly used in the form of a superfood powder in smoothies or other raw dishes (6).