How Much Vitamin C You Need Every Day—and the Best Ways to Eat It, According to Nutrition and Immunity Experts

What is Vitamin C, and what are its health benefits?

"Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that acts as a potent antioxidant," says Megan Meyer, PhD, microbiologist and nutritional immunologist, science communications consultant, and former director of science communication at the International Food Information Council. "It plays an important role in the nervous system, metabolism, and immunity." Additionally, vitamin C helps with micronutrient absorption, especially iron. Since your body doesn't produce its own vitamin C, you have to get it from food sources (or supplements).

How much vitamin C do you need each day?

According to Meyer, the recommended dietary allowances (RDAs)—the daily amount of a nutrient that meets the needs of most people—for vitamin C range from 15 milligrams to 120 milligrams per day, depending on factors like age and sex. The RDA for vitamin C is set at around 90 milligrams per day for men and 75 milligrams per day for women, although the RDA is higher if you're pregnant and/or breastfeeding. (To see specific RDAs, check out Meyer's article here.)

"Also of note: Vitamin C used to be listed on the nutrition facts label, but is no longer required since, on average, most Americans consume enough vitamin C each day," Meyer says.

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What are the best food sources of vitamin C?

According to Meyer, high amounts of vitamin C can be found in a variety of easy-to-find vegetables and fruits, including:

• red bell peppers
• broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• potatoes
• spinach
• tomatoes and tomato juice
• citrus fruits and citrus juice, such as oranges and grapefruits
• cantaloupe
• strawberries

Here are more delicious ways to eat lots of vitamin C.

Should you double up on vitamin C to boost immunity?

"Vitamin C is an important nutrient for optimal immune function. However, studies have shown that taking megadoses of [vitamin C] in supplement form doesn't actually do any good when it comes to fighting off illnesses, like the common cold," explains Ali Webster, PhD, R.D., senior director of research and nutrition communications for the International Food Information Council.

Webster explains that more vitamin C isn't necessarily better because the body can absorb only a few hundred milligrams of it at a time. Again, the RDA for vitamin C is 75 milligrams for women and 90 milligrams for men, and "any amount above this is excreted in the urine," she says.

Can you take too much vitamin C?

A vitamin C overdose is unlikely, but that doesn't mean chugging Emergen-C five times a day is worth it. "Since vitamin C is water-soluble, it has low toxicity and is not linked to adverse effects at high doses," Meyer says. "However, the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has established a Tolerable Upper Intake Level (aka UL) for vitamin C, stating that long-term intake of vitamin C above this amount may increase the risk of adverse health effects." Similar to the RDAs shared above, your body's UL depends on your age and sex. To find the specific vitamin C UL for you, see the National Institutes of Health guidelines here.

However, if you're taking certain medications, you'll need to be extra cautious with vitamin C supplements. "Vitamin C supplements may interact with several types of medications such as statins, chemotherapy, and radiation," Meyer says. "Regardless of your medical history and dosages, everyone should be sure to consult with their healthcare provider before taking vitamin C supplements."