6 Vitamin C Benefits You Need to Know About

"Vitamin C plays an essential role in maintaining good health," says Balz Frei, PhD, a leading vitamin C researcher and director of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University in Corvallis. "It's required for life." Why? Your cells need vitamin C to do their jobs properly, plus it has antioxidant properties to protect them from damage. Unfortunately, our bodies don't produce it, so grab a glass of orange juice and read more about the benefits of vitamin C.

It Helps You Lose Weight

You burn 30 percent more fat during a bout of moderate exercise when you have adequate levels of vitamin C compared to someone who has low levels of the vitamin, according to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. The theory? Vitamin C aids in the pathways that regulate fat oxidation, energy expenditure, and energy intake—all things that help with weight loss. When levels are sufficient, your body can do its job more efficiently.