You would think that taking Vitamin C supplements is good for you, right? What could be wrong with taking something that we know is so good for us? Swallowing Vitamin C in gummy or powdered form is an easy way of meeting of RDA of Vitamin C,  so why wouldn’t we take it? Well, what hides away in the supplement is uber-off putting.

You will find GMOs, because vitamin C is extracted from genetically engineered corn. GMO is not only bad for the environment, but, GMO food products damage our health, too. And what about all of that sugar? You will find aspartame, artificial colors, flavorings, sweeteners and, hydrogenated oils. All of these artificial ingredients are all genetically modified, too. As well as fillers, you will also find gelatin and other animal-based products hiding away in your ‘healthy’ Vitamin C tablets, so they’re hardly free from cruelty, either.

So, what’s next? For a start, we can stop buying those supplements, and get back to basics. We can start reaping Vitamin C from plant-based sources (organic where possible). Naturally, consuming Vitamin C will help protect your body from the damaging effects of free radicals. And, your health benefit from the vast amount of minerals, vitamins and, nutrients without the nasty side effects of supplements! Look at the easy ways to get your Vitamin C below – but, beware – you may be shocked at how much Vitamin C you will easily consume from plant-based sources!

1. Embrace Your Love for Lemons

Lemons are AMAZING. In every 100 grams of lemon you will find 88% of your Vitamin C allowance. As well as being high in Vitamin C, lemons are also incredibly alkalizing and detoxing for the body, which gives your immune system a helping hand. Around 20-30 minutes before breakfast, squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into a glass, fill with tepid tap water and, drink! Use lemon in a salad dressing like our Creamy Lemon Herb Dressing, or taste the tang in meals like this Roasted Carrot, Lemon, Avocado Salad with Tangy Dressing and Toasted Seeds and Lemony Baked Tofu.

2. Snack on All of the Fruits That End in ‘Berry’

An easy way of getting Vitamin C is by eating all sorts of berries. Strawberries in particular contain just over 112% of Vitamin C in every cup – why eat gummy vitamin c when you can eat berries, hey? Why don’t you snack on a handful of berries when you are feeling peckish or, when you find some free time experiment with this Raw Chocolate Berry Pudding which takes hardly any time to make, or how about Summer Berry Vanilla Cream Tarts and these Berry Fruit Tarts with Chia Seeds?

3. Munch on Spinach + Kale at Meal Times

Just one cup of raw spinach contains around 14% of your Vitamin C RDA, and 1 cup of kale contains 200% of your recommended allowance of Vitamin C, as well as over 1000% of your Vitamin K RDA. Make spinach the base to all of your salads and generously use spinach in the following dishes; Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms, Creamy Spinach + Pumpkin Lasagne and, Tofu Scrambled with Spinach and Nutritional Yeast. And, these kale recipes taste great: Strawberry and Kale Smoothie, Spiralized Veggies with Zucchini, Apple and Kale Slaw. Or, dip your carrots and celery into a Fresh Pumpkin Kale Hummus!

4. Eat Goji Berries!

Oh goji berries! You have high levels of antioxidants and, essential vitamins that make our bodies go boom! In every ounce of goji berries you will find 14% of your RDA of Vitamin C. Sprinkle into your smoothie or breakfast oatmeal. They also taste great in this Quinoa Salad Made with Figs, Perslane and Goji Berries, this Seeds and Goji Berry Granola, or Raw Vegan Goji Snack Chunks.

5. Pack a Pomegranate in Your Bag

Just 1 pomegranate contains 50% of your RDA Vitamin C (even more of a reason to throw away your supplements!) Munch on the seeds, throw together Pomegranate Balsamic Vegetables, Pomegranate Oatmeal Burst, and make sure you try this super Colorful Bulgur with Papaya and Pomegranate.

6. Get Ready to Eat More Sweet Potato!

As well as tasting incredibly good, sweet potatoes are high in antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin A, which prevents you from disease and ensures your hair stays healthy! Do we really need more of a reason to eat sweet potatoes? To me, sweet potatoes tastes good enough mashed or roasted, but, you can do SO much with them. Take a look at this Low Carb Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole, this Savory Sweet Potato Quiche, and why don’t you try sweet potato in a smoothie? It goes so well! Try out this Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie.

Image source: Creamy Pumpkin and Spinach Lasagna