Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) Information

Vitamin C is a water - soluble nutrient essential for life, used by the human body for many purposes. It is necessary to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels.

Vitamin C performs many other important functions within the body. A major function is synthesis of hydroxyproline, an important component of collagen and, thereby, all connective tissues. This vitamin can be found in skin care products. Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron in the diet. Vitamin C is an essential anti-oxidant (free radical damage). Scurvy is a disease associated with vitamin C deficiency.

It is important to choose a suitable method of food preparation that conserves vitamin C content. When cooking vegetables, one should seek to minimize temperature and duration of cooking and not discard water used in preparation.

Benifits to our body

Helps heal wounds, scar tissue and fractures. Essential for healthy bones, teeth and gums. People who tend to form kidney stones may find their condition aggravated by vitamin C supplementation or megadosing. Builds resistance to infection. Vitamin C is needed in the diet to prevent scurvy. Gives strength to blood vessels. Vitamin C helps support the immune system, aids amino acid metabolism and iron absorption.

Food Resource

The main sources foods of vitamin C are green vegetables, citrus fruits, broccoli and sweet and white potatoes, tomato, guava, cherry, strawberrys, green peppers, grapefruit. There is no difference in benefit between natural and synthetic forms (although fruits and vegetables contain various other nutrients, and Vitamin C is not their only health benefit).