Vitamin C ? What, Why, and How

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid is found in many of our "every day" foods and is essential to keep our bodies running at an optimum.

Vitamin C has several key uses:

It aids our bodies by helping form collagen which is an important protein that creates new tissue so that we can grow and/or repair any damage to our organs.

It is also an antioxidant which means it blocks some of the damage that can be caused by free-radicals which can build up as a result of our bodies transforming food into energy.

The human body cannot produce vitamin C on its own; therefore it needs to be made a part of our daily diet.

Symptoms of a vitamin C deficiency include -

- Anemia ( Vitamin C aids absorption of iron )
- nose bleeds
- easy bruising
- dry skin
- inflammation of gums
- decreased immunity to infection
- higher risk of developing cancer
- lung related problems

The average amount of vitamin C needed for an adult is 80-100mg per day. The body cannot store vitamin C, it will excrete any excess, and therefore this amount needs to be included in the diet every day to maintain health.

There are many foods that contain vitamin C. Most fruit and vegetables contain some vitamin C. Ripe food will contain more than unripe. Some examples of food with higher vitamin C content are-

-parsley
-broccoli
-bell pepper
-strawberries
-oranges
-lemon juice
-papaya
-cauliflower
-kale
- mustard greens
- Brussels sprouts

So make sure you are getting enough vitamin C in your diet and help boost your health today.

For more information on Vitamin C or any other vitamin, as well as recipe ideas on how to include these essential vitamins in your diet everyday, you can visit
www.truth-about-vitamins.com

Lysah Woods is an Australian currently studying to become a paramedic. She has always had a keen interest in all health related topics and combined with her love of food, nutrition is one of her strongest topics.