by Ifediba Nwokedi

Created on: September 11, 2010

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is essential for a human being. Without Vitamin C, the metabolism suffers, and we can develop different diseases including the common flu virus, scurvy or cancer. Humans are the only mammals that cannot produce Vitamin C on their own, and have to obtain their Vitamin C intake from fruits and vegetables or otherwise supplements. Vitamin C is generally present in citrus fruits, oranges, lemons, pineapples and so on, but other sources of Vitamin C can also be found in vegetables, e.g. cabbage, spinach, cauliflower and green peppers etc. It is water-soluble and heat liable, so it is crucial to keep in mind that cooking and canning can damage the Vitamin C present in fruits and vegetables. The good news is that Vitamin C is non-toxic and due to the fact that it is water soluble, any excess vitamin C leaves the body via urine. Thus it is unlikely that you can overdose on Vitamin C, though there are some adverse long-term effects of taking too much Vitamin C.

In 1773, Captain Lind of the British Navy showed that sailors could be cured of scurvy by a diet rich in Vitamin C by giving them lemons and oranges. Captain Cook (1772-75) followed suit by keeping his sailors on a fresh-food diet of fruit and vegetables.

The benefits of Vitamin C are abundant, and surprisingly advanced in the range of positive attributes. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and supports 300 metabolic functions in the body, which include tissue growth and repair, adrenal gland function and healthy gums. Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, relates to Carbohydrate metabolism, and a deficiency of insulin occurs when there is a reduced level of ascorbic acid in the body. Vitamin C also aids the proper functioning of various formative cells of tissue such as fibroblast and osteoblast etc. It helps with the synthesis of collagen. Collagen act as connective tissue between bones, and as some may know also aids skin elasticity. Collagen is in various anti-ageing cosmetic products.

Ascorbic acid also plays a decisive role in wound repair by laying down connective tissue that helps the tissue to heal. Red blood cells mature with the help of Vitamin C and thus a deficiency can lead to reduced blood clotting, delayed cloth retraction and anaemia. Other valuable benefits include the production of antistress hormones. It is a natural antihistamine that can help allergy suffers to reduce their symptoms. Some patients have seen a reduction in asthma symptoms due to an increased diet

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