Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid has been the subject of intense study ever since it was first discovered. Humans, other primates and guinea pigs are similar in that we all need Vitamin C in our diets daily or we will suffer from scurvy. We've apparently lost the ability to manufacture Vitamin C in our bodies and therefore need it in our diet as a supplement.
Vitamin C is important because it acts as an antioxidant which in essence is protecting the cells from damage from 'free radicals' in the body which punch holes in the cells of the body and result in cell damage. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is also needed in the production of collagen which is a component of cartilage, bone and muscle.
Symptoms of lack in Vitamin C
As mentioned above, a lack of Vitamin C results in scurvy where the affected person displays symptoms like weakness, joint pain, bruising on the skin, bleeding gums, loose teeth.
Claims made about Vitamin C
- it has long been touted that Vitamin C prevents colds and flus in the winter system. Studies have been mixed as to the effectiveness of Vitamin C in the prevention of colds.
- it prevents heart disease. Again studies on this have been mixed in their findings. However, it is a general recommendation that patients already with hardened arteries, high cholesterol and high blood pressure to go on a daily Vitamin C supplement as it does aid in dilating blood vessels and therefore reduces the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke.
- it lowers the risk of gut cancers.
- taking Vitamin C together with Vitamin E, Beta Carotene and Zinc has also been shown to decrease the likelihood of age related macular degeneration which is the most common cause of blindness for people over 60.
You will need to consume at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily to get your recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C. Most of us don't get anywhere near that amount. Note also that a lot of the Vitamin C in vegetables is destroyed in the cooking process, so even if you eat your cooked vegetables, you may still have insufficient intake of Vitamin C.
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Vitamin C
