What Blocks Vitamin C Absorption?
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that helps the body to fight off infection, repair tissue, and maintain healthy bones and teeth.
It is found in many fruits and vegetables, but unfortunately, certain factors can block its absorption. Knowing what blocks vitamin C absorption can help you ensure that you get enough of this important nutrient.
Boiling or steaming food can leach water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C, from the food. Prolonged cooking of food can also destroy vitamin C, leading to decreased vitamin C status in certain social or ethnic groups. Drying of leafy vegetables also decreases water-soluble vitamins, including vitamin C.
In addition, some medications, such as antacids, can interfere with the absorption of vitamin C. Alcohol can also interfere with the absorption of vitamin C, as can smoking. Smokers may need to take in more vitamin C than non-smokers to make up for the decreased absorption.
Finally, certain medical conditions can interfere with the absorption of vitamin C. These include Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and cystic fibrosis. People with these conditions may need to take in more vitamin C than the general population to make up for the decreased absorption.
It is important to be aware of what blocks vitamin C absorption in order to ensure that you get enough of this important nutrient. Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables is the best way to get enough vitamin C. If you are taking medications or have a medical condition that interferes with vitamin C absorption, you may need to take a supplement to make up for the decreased absorption.