How to get Vitamin C into your body naturally – 5 foods that contain Vitamin C

How to get Vitamin C into your body naturally – 5 foods that contain Vitamin C

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally available in certain foods and added to others. Vitamin C is also a dietary supplement and has proven to be an important physiological antioxidant that regenerates antioxidants in the human body. Early studies show that Vitamin C may help prevent or even delay the development of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and several other diseases. 

5 foods with Vitamin C

Oranges

One large orange contains 82mg Vitamin C, which is over 100% your recommended daily intake (RDI). There are a variety of oranges within the citrus species. Citrus x Sinensisis considered a sweet orange. Citrusx Aurantiumis a bitter orange. Oranges contain natural vitamin C because of their citric qualities. In percentages, 100g of orange juice contains 88% Vitamin C.

Red capsicum

Half of a chopped red pepper contains 95mg of Vitamin C, which is, again, over 100% of your RDI. They are one pf the most nutrient dense vegetables and have higher levels of nutrients and are sweeter than their green counterpart. Percentage-wise, 100g of capsicum contains 404% Vitamin C.

Broccoli

Half a cup of steamed Broccoli contains 51mg Vitamin C, 57% of your RDI. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable which had been known to lower oxidative stress and increase immunity. It is part of the cabbage family and can range in colour from a dark sage to dark purple . It is also high in Protein, Vitamins A & K as well a a good source of minerals. In percentages, 100g of broccoli contains 148% Vitamin C.

Guava

One whole Guava contains 125mg of Vitamin C, over 100% of your RDI. Guavas are tropical fruits that are cultivated and enjoyed in tropical and subtropical regions. Psidium guava (the guava we see most often) is a small tree of the Myrtle family which is native to warm regions of the Americas and are grown commercially in Australia . In percentages, 100g of Guava contains 380% Vitamin C.

Kiwi

One Kiwi contains 64mg of Vitamin C, which is over 100% of your DV. Kiwifruit is also known as Chinese gooseberry, which is the name given to edible berries of several species of the woody vines of the Genus Actinidia. Kiwi fruit is overall about the size of a large chicken egg and the skin is also edible. In percentages, 100g of kiwi contains 154% Vitamin C.

Benefits of consuming foods that are rich in Vitamin C

• Healthy skin growth and collagen formation

• Increased and improved mineral absorption 

• Fights free radical damage

• Boosted immunity for fighting colds and flu

• Improved gum and teeth health 

• Improved circulation and heart health 

Women can consume up to 75mg of Vitamin C a day, and men can consume up to 90mg Vitamin C a day. Especially in times of stress both physically and emotionally. The recommended daily intake for both men and woman is 60mg.

Health Benefits of Vitamin C

Immune Function

Vitamin C promotes a healthy, well-functioning immune system. It helps stimulate the production of white blood cells, which are essential to effective immunity. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that also helps protect white blood cells from the damage.

Collagen Production

Vitamin C is the manufacturer of Collagen. Collagen is an important protein for the structures that hold the body together. Such as Cartilage, connective tissue, ligaments, tendons etc. It is also vital for wound repair, healthy gums and preventing bruising.

Skin

Consumption of Vitamin C may decrease the appearance of wrinkles and alleviate dry skin. The antioxidants present in Vitamin C help to reduce effects of pollution, stress and even a poor diet.

Stroke

Some studies show that high levels of Vitamin C in the blood may reduce the risk of a stroke by 50%.

Vitamin C is essential for our well being and is one of the few vitamins that cannot be over consumed. Incorporate some of these Vitamin C-packed foods in your daily diet for better, long-lasting health benefits

If you’re not sure about how much vitamin C you’re getting or you’d like to discuss your health further, book your appointment or your complimentary 30 minute discovery call so that we get you feeling more of your old self again.  If you feel your stress or exhaustion effecting the way you live, then have a book into my Adrenal Rescue Program to get you back

The Power of Magnesium and the signs that you’re probably not getting enough

The Power of Magnesium and the signs that you’re probably not getting enough

If I got a dollar for every time I said, “you need some magnesium” I’d be a very, very, yes very wealthy woman.

I see and hear it every, single, day, but why are we not getting enough and why is it so important??

Magnesium is a mineral that is essential to good health. As a matter of fact, it is the 4th most abundant mineral found in the body. Nearly half of body’s magnesium is commonly found in your bones while the other half is mainly found in the cells of your body organs and tissues.

Magnesium supports typical nerve and muscle function, maintains a healthy immune system and helps keep bones strong. Apart from this, magnesium plays an important role in the management and prevention of certain conditions and diseases including anxiety, adrenal fatigue, memory loss, depression, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. 

And while only 1% of the body’s magnesium is found in blood, the essential mineral also helps maintain normal blood pressure and regulate blood sugar levels.

Now Magnesium deficiency in your diet is caused of lack of consumption of magnesium-rich foods and soil depletion. Poor digestion and absorption can also play a big factor in deficiency.

Here, are some of the signs that you are magnesium-deficient and the important things you can do to overcome it. 

1.    Fatigue- It is very common for people to feel wound up after their long hours of work or parenting. This is one of the reasons why you can find it hard time to sleep at night.

Magnesium can help. It plays a vital role to make your central nervous system function well. Once you lack this mineral, you may experience waking up in the middle of the night, making you irritable and constantly tired throughout your day. I highly recommend eating a bit of dark chocolate or pumpkin seeds.

2.    Restless Legs- I used to get this and it is a horrible feeling. According to studies, if you experience muscle cramp or running legs while you are lying in bed, it could be related to magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium can make your muscles relax and avoid painful cramping. Increase leafy vegetables into your daily meal. This will surely help to improve your magnesium levels and at the same time reduce painful muscle cramping. 

3.    High Blood Pressure- High blood pressure can damage your body before you experience the signs. Even though you exercise and eat healthy foods, you can still experience high blood pressure. This could be because you lack magnesium in your body. With the combination of exercise and healthy diet, you may need to supplement magnesium.

4.    Dizziness-Extreme dizziness or also known as vertigo can be cause by lack of magnesium. For you to avoid dizziness, make sure to eat fatty fish on a regular basis. This is because fish is an excellent source of magnesium that encourages brain’s recognition of sensory signals.

5.    Stress-When you are stressed, general tension, weight gain and worry lines all show up. Stress causes your body to waste magnesium so it is highly recommended to incorporate magnesium-rich foods to your diet. This will surely help to make your nervous system happy and calm. Looks at nuts, avocado coconut, green beans.

Exercise is also seen by the body as stress so if you work out regularly, it would be worth increasing your magnesium for muscle recovery.

6.    Belly Bloat- The ultimate key to a healthy and happy life is to keep your digestive system in good condition. Magnesium plays a part in insulin release, fat and cholesterol metabolism, as well as relaxing your intestines muscles, making slow digestion and bloating unlikely.

Incorporate excellent sources of magnesium into your diet to boost your digestive health. Eat dried fruit, bananas and yogurt. 

If any of this sounds like you or you’d like to discuss your health further, book your appointment or your complimentary 30 minute discovery call so that we get you feeling more of your old self again. 

Be Kind To Yourself

Written by my good friend - Peita

I have never, ever, written an article or a Blog in my life (unless you count the copious newsletter articles I have written as teacher!) But I got thinking about this and this topic is something I am becoming so passionate about that I really feel that I should give it a go, even if it just once! Even if it just lets one other person relax, reflect and think, “actually I am wonderful. I don’t need to lose weight to be a better person.” 

I am a 40-year-old wife of an incredible guy, mother of two spunky, easily-loveable kids and a bit of everything else: teacher (Assistant Principal), part-time cook, tidier, taxi driver, gardener etc. I love wine, reading, lifestyle shows, games, camping, walking and socialising. Sound like anyone else? I’m not special, I’m not overly ambitious – I just enjoy life. But as I grow older (and oh so wiser!) I am starting to think that this love of life could have been easily lost if I had continued focussing on the things that didn’t matter – my weight, how I look, how I fit into my clothes.

Now before I go any further I need to provide context – I am what I would consider very average! Depending on the brand I am usually a size 12 but if you were to take a look in my cupboard and drawers you would find garments ranging from size 8 to size 14. Years ago I would have also had size 16 in there because I preferred to hide curves rather than show them off. My BMI is in the overweight range (I’m 168cm tall) and so to be at the top range of healthy I would have to lose 6kg. But get this…..since the age of 18 and not including four pregnancies (two miscarriages) I have only every fluctuated between approximately 68-78 kgs. One would think after all the programs, meal plans, fad diets I have been on I would be far lighter or heaver. So, I decided to stop. Stop the stress. Stop the worry. Stop the committing to things that didn’t suit my life style. Stop comparing myself to others. I decided to be KIND to myself.

I don’t believe epiphany is the right term but over the past three or four years I have certainly had a change in tune regarding my body image and there is no exact time or moment that can really be attributed for this alteration in my beliefs. I just got SICK of worrying all the time about how I looked and what I could do to alter that. I was exasperated with obsessing over meal plans and points and inflicting these strict guidelines on others. I used to feel embarrassed of my tummy. I hated my arms. I thought my nose was too big. I thought my clothes looks silly on me. All that time and emotional energy spent on worrying about something that really didn’t change my day-to-day life.

I chose to be kind, I chose balance. I now enjoy many healthy foods and I enjoy items that some would consider treats, “sometimes foods”, “only on celebrations” type foods. I love to walk but I hate the gym. I walk copious amount of stairs at work each day but I also enjoy lounging on my couch with a book or a good reality show (if there is such a thing!).  I drink brilliantly healthy green juices every day that have really helped me with my digestive system but I also love a chilled glass (or three) of Sauvignon blanc. I choose clothes that suit me and my shape. I choose exercise options that raise my heart rate but don’t make me want to vomit! I choose to eat things that me feel good: tasty, non-bloating and fresh produce.

I seek advice when required but don’t obsess over it. I spoke to a wonderful friend who is a nutritionist who has provide me with invaluable advice in term of types of foods I can eat to feel good and look after my body. She’s an inspiration as she too is about balance; food choices, exercise and work-life. Mental health and wellbeing is just so vitally important and beating yourself up because of eating a donut is really not worth it! Trusting someone who understands this balance is essential.

I have read a lot of articles and auto-biographies from celebrities, people dying of terminal diseases and inspirational people in the past few years and the message from all of them; “eat the cake, drink the wine.” They also have other personal messages – be as healthy as you can for you, your body, your situation. We are not the same but one thing we do have in common is wanting to feel good and happy. I want that for me, my family and my friends. I want to be strong role-model based on my actions and attitude, not someone who is miserable because how I look in the mirror.

Peita and I catching ups over cocktails - good friends and balance xx

Now before I have people jumping up and down screaming at me about inner-health, my organs, my skin etc. etc. I know a lot about healthy eating and good choices. I know that your body needs nutrients and everyone is different. I know vitamins and minerals come in all types of packages - natural and produced. All I am trying to say is – be KIND! Do what is right for you but don’t beat yourself up what you have or haven’t eaten in a day. If you want to go to the gym to tone, do it! If you want to commit to a vegan diet because it suits your ethics and makes you feel great, do it! If you want to prepare for a marathon by running every day and eating a specifically planned-diet, do it! But please don’t hate yourself for what you look like or what you weigh.

I really am very lucky. I am not denying it. I have a brilliant family, extremely supportive beautiful friends and my life has progressed without too many disasters. Some of you may be thinking, “yeah right, she’s got easy” and maybe I do but I’ll ask you this: no matter how easy or hard your life is, why would adding the extra stress of self-bashing about your weight and looks be beneficial? At some point we all have family issues, financial concerns, job worries as well as the everyday stresses of work. We are busy ferrying kids around, worrying about their health and wellbeing plus the multitude of other things that can impact our lives positively or negatively. There is no one answer to cope with stress and of course we all do it differently. My go-to would definitely be those chilled glasses of wine, particularly with some great friends but I still come back to this; life is hard, life is challenging and life is also bloody grand so let’s not add one more negative, self-loathing element if we don’t have to.

Today I have purchased the ingredients to make some cracking, delicious salads that will be for dinner and lunches this week – meal planning – go me! It’s not so I can focus on losing that five kilograms that would see me be slimmer, it’s so I can be organised, enjoy what I am eating and know what I am putting into my body will be nutritional and energy rich for another busy week. I will also take the kids to the beach, go for a walk and then enjoy some fish and chips and a glass of wine. Balance – foods I like, foods that are good for me, family time, relaxation and exercise. That’s what is right for me, right now. 

I’ll probably look at my body in the mirror in bathers and do a slight shudder but I won’t self-hate, I won’t not enjoy my time at the beach and I won’t start planning the strict diet I HAVE to go on to look like what some might see as ideal. I will continue walking, I will continue eating a range of food options and I will continue making health a priority but I WON’T kick my self for not being “good” last weekend. I won’t cover up just because I’m not as toned a I was before. I won’t sulk or feel embarrassed and annoyed that I have a bit of extra weight around my tummy. I’ll enjoy my family. I’ll enjoy my relaxing time at the beach. I’ll enjoy the wine and my life. I’ll be kind to myself.

Be kind to yourselves.

 Peita Cooper