Liquid Sources of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a nutrient vital to your immune system, bones and blood vessels. It helps the body to absorb iron and can also help lessen the duration of the common cold if consumed regularly at levels the body can use. It cannot be stored in body fat as it is soluble in water, so it is necessary to get the recommended amount of vitamin C daily. Drinking vitamin C as a liquid source makes it convenient to carry and easy to consume. While most citrus juices are high in vitamin C, other juices also are rich in this nutrient.

Acerola Cherry Juice

• The acerola cherry, also known as the Barbados cherry or the West Indian cherry, is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C. Grown in many tropical parts of the world, the juice is available at many health food stores, often in powder form that can be reconstituted. One cup of this juice provides 3,872 mg of Vitamin C, or 6,454 percent of the Food and Drug Administration's recommended daily value. Because acerola juice is tart, it may be best mixed with other juices or made into a syrup.

Rose Hip Syrup

• Rose hips are the fruit produced by rose plants. A serving of 1 oz. fresh rose hips provides 119 mg of vitamin C, or 199 percent of your daily needs. Rose hips can easily be made into syrup by simmering 4 cups of rose hips in 2 cups of water for 20 minutes after bringing to a boil. Strain into a jar and add 1 cup of honey or sugar to taste. The resulting syrup is full of vitamin C and can be mixed into drinks or eaten over ice cream, or simply consumed by itself. This syrup will stay fresh in the refrigerator for two to three months or can be canned like other fruit syrups.

Grapefruit Juice

• Grapefruit juice, like the juice of many citrus fruits, is a palatable source of vitamin C. A serving of 1 cup contains only 96 calories and 93.9 mg of vitamin C, or 156 percent of your daily needs. Available at most grocery stores in the juice section, make sure to select grapefruit juice that is not mixed with sugar and water to make it sweeter and thus a less-potent source of vitamin C.

Orange Juice

• Orange juice is the classic vitamin C source that is a breakfast staple. A 1-cup serving contains 137 percent of your recommended daily value with 81.9 mg of vitamin C. Orange juice also is high in thiamine and folate, making it nutritionally well-rounded. Because it is naturally sweeter than grapefruit juice and acerola juice, it is more palatable.

Lemonade

• Most forms of lemonade, whether made fresh, from a juice concentrate or from a mix, are good sources of vitamin C. A 6-oz. serving of lemonade made from concentrate provides 65 percent of your daily needs. If you are making lemonade from lemon juice, remember this: the more lemon juice you include, the higher the amount of vitamin C.