Vitamin C – A Multi-Facetted Vitamin

There are essentially two types of vitamins that humans need on a daily basis: those that are water-soluble and those that are not (those fat-soluble ones from my last post). Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin which means that we need to replenish our supply of this very important vitamin on a daily basis. Here’s a short list of some of the many health benefits of vitamin C:

* Essential for growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body.
* Necessary for the formation of collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels.
* Needed for the repair and maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.

The importance of vitamin C was discovered when sailors on long voyages would develop scurvy. The only ‘cure’ was to eat fruits high in Vitamin C. The British Navy used limes (easily acquired from some of their colonies) and hence the nickname of ‘limey’ to refer to the British came about. If you are lucky enough to have a lime tree in your yard, or a friend or neighbor with one, then you have a ready source for this important vitamin.

But what about those juicy orange trees? Unfortunately, unless you purchase fortified orange juice at the store, oranges are not one of the better sources of vitamin C. These are your best sources of vitamin C:

* Avocados (which grow very well here in Central Florida)
* Rose hips (often found in teas)
* Blackcurrant (I love blackcurrant jelly)
* Red pepper
* Parsley
* Guava
* Kiwi fruit
* Broccoli
* Brussels sprouts (cooked right these really can be very tasty)
* Papaya (another fruit found growing all over Central Florida)

Of course, you can also take vitamin C supplements. Unsure about which product to purchase? Check out what the Vitamin C Foundation has to say on the subject.

One really important benefit of vitamin C is in the prevention of heart disease, hardening of the arteries and as a good defense against bad cholesterol. I have a copy of “Prevention’s New Encyclopedia of Common Diseases” which sites a February, 1981, article in the Journal of Human Nutrition about studies done in England with elderly patients suffering from coronary artery disease who benefited from a daily dose of one gram (1,000 milligrams) of vitamin C.

Personally, I take 1 gram of vitamin C every day. If I feel like I’m starting to get sick I will increase my dosage. However, one word of caution: if you take too much vitamin C in one day it can upset your stomach and or cause diarrhea. You might want to check out this article in the Nutrition Journal for more information and another point of view on this essential vitamin.


source