It is safe to consume vitamin C during pregnancy. In fact, vitamin C is essential to your health. It aids in keeping your tissues healthy which helps to prevent medical conditions such as scurvy. In addition, vitamin C can improve the health of your immune system. It is also considered an antioxidant that strengthens your overall health.
Recommended Intake of Vitamin C for Women
According to the National Institutes of Health, teens age 14 to 18 should consume 65 mg of vitamin C per day. In addition, it is recommended that women age 19 and older consume 75 mg of vitamin C per day.
Vitamin C and Pregnancy
If you are a woman, vitamin C is just as important during pregnancy as it is for your regular health because you need to provide both your body and your baby with a supply of vitamin C. In addition to vitamin C's other benefits, the American Pregnancy Association states that vitamin C is important during pregnancy because it helps your body to better absorb iron, which is an important mineral to consume while pregnant.
Recommended Intake for Pregnant Women
If you are pregnant and between the age of 14 and 18, NIH recommends that you consume 80 mg of vitamin C each day, which is more than the normal recommendation. If you are pregnant and age 19 and older, NIH recommends you consume 85 mg of vitamin C. Once the baby is born, you should significantly increase your intake of vitamin C. A 14 to 18-year-old woman who is lactating should consume 115 mg of vitamin C. If you are age 19 and older and lactating, you should consume 120 mg of vitamin C each day.
BabyCenter.com states that it is more important to consume vitamin C consistently on most days versus trying to consume the maximum limit each day. Consuming vitamin C from food sources is generally the best choice. Consuming too much vitamin C or taking vitamin C supplements has been known to cause pre-term birth. For this reason, taking vitamin C supplements is generally not advised. The National Institutes of Health states that the maximum tolerable limit for pregnant women is 2,000 mg per day on average. However, consuming this amount on a consistent basis can cause adverse health effects. Pregnant women should work with their physician to determine the target range and maximum limit for daily intake of vitamin C.
Sources of Vitamin C
It is generally easy to consume the minimum recommended intake of vitamin C. Several foods contain moderate amounts of vitamin C. For example, a 1/2 cup of raw red pepper contains 95 mg of vitamin C. A 3/4 cup of orange juice contains approximately 93 mg of vitamin C. Both of these amounts are higher than the typical daily recommendation.
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