Today, vitamin C is promoted as a panacea for anything from a common cold to cancer. Also called ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, which is essential for the normal functioning of the body. Unlike most mammals, human beings do not produce vitamin C naturally. Hence, we must obtain vitamin C through our diet.
Ideally, one would take the natural form of vitamin C in the form of fresh vegetables and fruits. Cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, fresh parsley, cilantro, bell peppers, and all varieties of berries are excellent sources of this vitamin. The FDA recommends 60 mgs of vitamin C per day.
Vitamin C helps the body in different ways:
· Vitamin C has a significant role to play in collagen production. Vitamin C helps in wound healing of all types -cuts, broken bones, burns, and recovery from surgical wounds. However, for the average person, there is no evidence that mega doses of vitamin C make a difference, or that mega doses can prevent colds.
· Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and hence a vitamin C rich diet does help in fighting conditions like common cold or seasonal allergies.
· Vitamin C helps the body neutralize stress in the body. Due to physiological and psychological reasons, vitamin C helps by binding up with free radicals and controlling infections. This also means that it helps in keeping those wrinkles away!
· There are other conditions vitamin C helps. It helps repair collagen. Collagen is a tissue needed for healthy blood vessels, bones, teeth, and gums; it also protects the skin after exposure to (UV) rays.
· External application of vitamin C helps to form new tissues, blood vessels, and cartilage.
· Vitamin C helps in fighting conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
· Vitamin C can be used to regulate the blood sugar levels of diabetics. This vitamin provides a protective mechanism against many diabetic complications. Vitamin C helps to prevent diabetic complications like poor wound healing, capillary problems, and lowered blood circulation.
· Vitamin C helps the body in other ways too. It helps Parkinson's disease, autoimmune disorders, preeclampsia in pregnant women, and gingivitis. Proper nerve communication is also aided by vitamin C by synthesizing certain neurotransmitters. Hence, it can even keep Alzheimer’s disease at bay.
· Another great property of vitamin C is that it helps iron absorption.
© Newsmax. All rights reserved.