We all know that Vitamin C is good for our body, but do we really know the various types of Vitamin C benefits to our body? Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, while most other vitamins, except B- vitamins are fat soluble. Our body doesn’t synthesize or store Vitamin C instead we get what we need from foods that are rich in it. Consuming too much Vitamin C may not be harmful to our body because the excess amount will be excreted in our urine. However, vitamin C should not be taken in extremely large doses. Doing so can cause diarrhea.
Vitamin C, also known as Ascorbic Acid, is most famous for reducing the risk of getting common cold. Vitamin C helps our immune system. It fights against bacteria, viruses, infection, and helps alleviate the symptoms of cold such as inflammation, stuffy nose, and aches.
Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant. It connects fat soluble antioxidants with water soluble ones. It recharges the fat soluble Vitamin E when it gets transformed into a free radical. There are other antioxidants such as lipoic acid which can also regenerate vitamin E. However, vitamin C is much more powerful in getting the job done.
Vitamin C can protect our body from free radicals linked to oxidation such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer. Oxidation is the combination of a substance with oxygen. Oxidation causes skin aging, as well as destroys all other organs and tissues of the body. An example of how oxidation works is cutting an apple then exposing the cut apple to air. Upon doing this, the apple will quickly turn brown. Body cells also suffer damage like this when exposed to oxygen.
Vitamin C is also beneficial to our eyes. The lens of the human eye requires Vitamin C, and some researchers even believe that it can help protect the lens from the damage caused by sunlight as Vitamin C not only helps us improve our vision but also prevents the clouding of the lens which is a symptom of cataract.
Another benefit of Vitamin C is faster healing of wounds and injuries like surgical incisions, cuts, broken bones and burns. The theory behind this is because Vitamin C is responsible for producing collagen. Collagen is an important protein used to make skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. It is responsible for holding the cells together. Some people refer to collagen as the glue that holds the body together. Without it, the body would fall apart. Vitamin C also keeps our gums healthy. People with lack of Vitamin C often develop black, swollen gums otherwise known as scurvy.
Some excellent sources of Vitamin C are oranges, lemons, papaya, watermelon, grapefruit, cantaloupe, strawberries, kiwi, mango, broccoli, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. Organic, raw and cooked leafy vegetables, red and green peppers, canned and fresh tomatoes, potatoes, winter squash, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries and pineapples are also rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is sensitive to light, air and heat, so you’ll get the most Vitamin C if you eat fruits and vegetables raw or lightly cooked.
The other benefits of Vitamin C are still being studied, like the study of the Vitamin C benefits to help prevent some cancers. Some cancer patients believe that using a Vitamin C supplement can be of some assistance with helping the body to fight the illness.