Delicious & Healthy: How Vitamin C in Grapefruit Can Help Protect You From the Flu
2020 has been a chaotic year, to say the least, and flu season is fast approaching. While we’re all struggling with the effects of a global pandemic, now is not the time to forget about other health concerns that can arise. This year, more than
ever before, it is imperative that we do our best to protect our health.
One secret weapon against the flu can be found in every drop of Winter Sweetz delicious Texas red grapefruits. We’re talking about vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a key part of any balanced diet and is indispensable for your health. Amazingly, vitamin C can boost your immune system to help prevent respiratory viruses like the flu.
The Basics of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an ascorbic acid and is an essential component for good overall health. Most of us get the majority of our vitamin C from the foods we eat, but you can also take supplemental vitamins to ensure you are getting the right dosage. Fruits and vegetables generally have the highest levels of vitamin C.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is needed for the formation of collagen in cartilage, bones, blood vessels, and muscle. It also allows your body to absorb iron, another key component of good health.
Another benefit is that vitamin c is great for your skin. Air pollution, cigarette smoke, and other pollutants can
all damage your skin with free radicals, but vitamin C helps protect against that damage.
Regarding the flu, vitamin C’s most important job is helping to strengthen your immune system.
Vitamin C and Your Immune System
According to Healthline, regularly eating grapefruits can help boost your immune system. Of course, this is largely due to the high levels of vitamin C found in them. Vitamin C boosts your body’s production of white blood cells that help fight off infections. It then helps those white blood cells work more effectively.
Vitamin C also has powerful antioxidant properties that work to protect your cells from things like viruses and harmful bacteria. It also supports your skin’s ability to defend against harmful substances.
On the other hand, studies have shown that low levels of vitamin C can lead to poor health that can make it harder for your body to defend itself. For instance, those suffering from pneumonia may recover more quickly if treated with vitamin C.
Vitamin C deficiencies can also make it harder to fight off respiratory infections, including the flu. That being said, always speak to a medical professional before making changes to your diet.
Flu Season 2020-21
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu season generally lasts throughout the fall and winter, though you can catch the flu at any time. Flu activity peaks in the months between December and February, but cases can linger as late as May.
This flu season is set to be even more important than usual due to the compounded danger of COVID-19. Cases of the flu are always an issue for the country, but now we should be even more vigilant about our health and the health of our loved ones.
Fewer serious cases of the flu mean fewer people in hospitals. That leaves more beds open for those suffering from serious complications caused by COVID-19 and also limits contact between potentially ill people.
It is possible to contract COVID-19 and the flu at the same time.
Prevention Is Better Than a Cure
The heart of the relationship between vitamin C and the flu is prevention. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system so that it can fight off illnesses before they take hold. Studies have shown that mice with high levels of vitamin C in their systems are better at fighting off the flu. This is believed to be because vitamin C increases the body’s production of interferons, proteins that fight viruses. The raised interferon levels stopped the flu from being able to replicate, thus stopping the virus’ ability to spread through the body.
So why is it such a good thing that vitamin C helps prevent the flu rather than combat it? While we’ve all probably heard the phrase “prevention is better than a cure,” we may not all know why.
For one thing, prevention is generally much cheaper than treatment. For instance, getting a flu shot is considerably cheaper than paying for a hospital visit if you catch a serious case. Prevention also helps to protect your health in the long run by protecting you against the lasting effects of illnesses.
Grapefruits and Vitamin C
Fruits and vegetables are some of the best sources of vitamin C, red grapefruits especially!
In fact, each Texas red grapefruit contains 80 milligrams of vitamin C on average. According to the Mayo Clinic, adults should eat between 65 and 90 milligrams of vitamin C per day to stay healthy. This makes grapefruits an excellent option for those looking to boost their immune system this flu season.
From muffins to coconut shrimp, there are all sorts of recipes and meals that include the tangy flavor of grapefruit and the added benefit of vitamin C. The options are endless when it comes to getting your daily recommended vitamins from grapefruits.
The Winter Sweetz Season
Our juicy Texas red grapefruits are coming to a grocery store near you very soon! The Winter Sweetz season actually coincides with flu season, making our sweet fruit the ideal option for those looking to support their immune health this fall and winter.
If you’re looking to try some tasty Winter Sweetz grapefruit, you can order a box to be delivered right to your door! Or you can ask the produce manager at your favorite grocery store about stocking Winter Sweetz grapefruits.