The benefits of vitamin C for supporting immune system health and function to fight illness have made it one of the most popular health supplements in Australia.
But did you know that vitamin C is also a key nutrient for supporting healthy skin? Vitamin C is not only an important nutritional player in the body’s synthesis of collagen, but it is also a potent antioxidant. It assists in keeping the skin healthy by reducing free radical damage formed in the body due to environmental toxins such as pollution and UV rays.
THE COLLAGEN CONNECTION
Collagen is a protein that provides our skin with strength, structure, and elasticity. It comprises long chains of amino acids that form stable collagen fibres once they undergo specific biological modifications, and that’s where vitamin C comes in. This nutrient plays an important role in the process of hydroxylation, where the amino acids proline and lysine become water-soluble, allowing their cross-linking to stabilise the collagen molecule. From there, the mature collagen structure is formed, which in turn maintains a healthy structure in the skin tissues.
Vitamin C is so important in collagen synthesis that the symptoms associated with low levels are mostly due to defective collagen synthesis, which can result in significant skin problems, compromised wound healing, and weak blood vessels.
ANTIOXIDANT ASSISTANCE
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that aids the body in reducing free radicals produced by environmental pollution, UV exposure, smoking, and toxins. These stressors generate free radicals that can damage body tissues, including the skin. By neutralising free radicals, vitamin C contributes to protecting the entire body from oxidative stress.
THE LIPOSOMAL EDGE
Vitamin C is widely available in various forms and preparations, including powders, tablets, and capsules. However, many individuals find these forms can cause digestive issues, and some require very high doses to experience benefits. Liposomal vitamin C provides a solution by being easy on digestion while offering significantly improved absorption and utilisation by the cells that need it.
SO, WHAT IS LIPOSOMAL TECHNOLOGY?
Liposomal Technology takes a substance, in this case ascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C), and encases it in tiny, phospholipid ‘bubbles’ that act as a protective shell. This helps the nutrient make its way through the gastrointestinal system without being destroyed by digestive acids and enzymes, which in turn allows increased absorption into the bloodstream. Because cell membranes are made up of a phospholipid layer, liposomal molecules are directly delivered and have a longer time to circulate, potentising their benefits.
By choosing a liposomal vitamin C supplement, we give our bodies a distinct advantage in absorbing and utilising the benefits of this important nutrient, especially in collagen synthesis and free radical protection. For skin, liposomes are the obvious choice!