Nutrition

Quick And Easy Facts About Vitamin C

Since our body cannot produce Vitamin C on its own, it must be replenished everyday through our diet. All fruits and vegetables consists of some amount of vitamin C. Foods that tend to be the highest sources of vitamin C include tomatoes, green peppers, turnip greens, broccoli, cabbage, strawberries, citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, cauliflower, papaya, mango, watermelon, cantaloupe, and other leafy greens, sweet and white potatoes, and brussels sprouts. In dietary supplements, it is usually sold in the form of ascorbic acid (another common name for vitamin C), calcium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate or a mixture of these forms.

The vitamin C benefits are numerous. It helps the body in the formation of collagen, a basic unit of connective tissues. Collagen is an essential structural element in blood vessel walls, gums and bones, making it distinctly significant to those recuperating from wounds and surgery. It also acts as antioxidants, scavenging possibly harmful molecules called free radicals. Even though not firmly noted by clinical trials, this antioxidants ability may help boost immune function, age-related macular degeneration of the retina, protect against cancer, cataracts, and other chronic diseases.

 

Vitamin C intake may be especially helpful to smokers, as they are more likely to sucker from oxidative tension and cell damage that can consume Vitamin C. It also intensifies iron absorption. It may work against high blood pressure (hypertension) by defending levels of nitric oxide, a natural chemical in the body that aids relax blood vessels. It develops healthy teeth and gums, helps in the absorption of iron, helps in the preservation of normal connective tissue, and promotes wound healing. It also assists the body’s immune system.

Lack of vitamin C can lead to a condition called scurvy, which causes muscle infirmity, loss of teeth, swollen and bleeding gums, and bleeding under the skin, as well as fatigue and despair. Luckily you only need about 60mg of vitamin C daily to prevent this condition which is very easy to obtain as long as you eat a few fruits or legumes every day. Other problems of a lack of vitamin C are infants and children bone growth may be impaired which is sometimes treated with oral vitamin C.