Did you know that vegetables are a better source of Vitamin C compared to fruits? Yes, you read it right. Before we go to the details of that, first let’s talk about what is Vitamin C and why it’s a vital part of our daily diet?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate, is a water-soluble vitamin naturally present in the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy. It is one of the most essential nutrients that our body needs.
Vitamin C plays an important role in boosting our overall immune system to maintain its proper function in fighting common diseases and even cancer or COVID 19. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that is best for a good heart condition, responsible for the repair as well as restoration of tissues, wound healing, iron absorption, and scurvy prevention. So we have all the reasons to supply our body with the right amount of Vitamin C every day.
The normal amount recommended for an adult daily intake of Vitamins C is 75 to 120 mg. Most people get their source of Vitamin C from citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, grapefruit, and many more. It is true that these fruits are a good source of Vitamin C. Let’s take Guava as an example, it has the highest amount of Vitamin C which is around 228.3 mg in an amount of 100 g then followed by Kiwi which has 92.7 mg. Indeed, citrus fruits have a high amount of Vitamin C and it is actually better for us to have them before our meals for better Vitamin C absorption rather than after meals.
But an unknown fact is that in reality vegetables have a higher amount of Vitamin C compared to the fruits that we mentioned earlier. Does that sound new to you? It’s because instead of being known for the high occurrence of Vitamin C, the vegetable is more commonly known as being high in fiber or other nutrients. However, knowing that vegetables have higher water content compared to fruits, it’s just reasonable to conclude that same goes for the content of Vitamin C for it is known as a water-soluble vitamin.
You might be surprised to know that chili has the highest source of Vitamin C from all other vegetables. One chili can already fill in the amount of Vitamin C that our body needs. Chili has 242.5 mg of Vitamin C content in an amount of 100 g which is obviously higher than Guava. Next in our list is Kale, which has 120 mg then Broccoli with 89.2 mg. Other vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, Bell Peppers, and Mustard Greens are also on the top of our list. So next time you visit the grocery to stock up on your supplies, you can try the check the vegetable section first before proceeding to get your favorite fruits.
How about you? After reading about that comparison, which do you prefer? Vegetables or fruits? Let us know in the comment section below. We would love to know your thoughts about this article!
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