Vitamin C and Its Effects

Vitamin C is a nutritive substance found especially in fruits and vegetables that is needed by the body to maintain different chemical reactions. Its main function is to support the body’s production of collagen, which is the basic building block of connective tissues. Without the right level of vitamin C, the body will not be able to have healthy blood vessel walls, bones, and gums. Vitamin C is also very important in the process of healing from wounds and surgeries.

Ascorbic acid is also a very good antioxidant, making the body more resistant to free radicals and other objects that exhibits harmful molecules. Being an antioxidant, ascorbic acid also has the ability to boost the body’s immune function, prevents degeneration of the retina, cataracts, certain cancers, and some chronic diseases. Vitamin C is highly needed by smokers, since they can easily deplete their body’s level of vitamin C and they are prone to oxidative stress. Ascorbic acid is also known as an iron absorption enhancer.

It is also known as L- ascorbic acid that contains an ion called ascorbate, an electrically charge atom or a particle required for normal metabolism. It is also an anti oxidant, acting to reduce oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress brings out and produce diseases include cardiovascular disease or any relating to heart and blood vessels such as diabetes, chronic inflammatory diseases and hypertension.

Some studies claim that vitamin c helps prevent problems in our body’s immune system according to research it is essential for the reason that it supports the functioning of the body’s immune system. These claims are stated as fact and are supported by scientific evidences.

Another research proves that ascorbic acid helps not only as an anti oxidant on the contrary it also acts as pro oxidant. Yes, since ascorbic acid has been tested to lessen transition metals, like ferric ions to ferrous and cupric ions to cuprous.

It has been concluded that vitamin C also encompasses mind and behavior or what we called psychological function. These functions include the synthesis of collagen, carnitine and neurotransmitters, microsome metabolism.

We can find vitamin C in different fruits and vegetables. But the amount or percentage of vitamin C a plant contains depends on: the precise variety of plant, the variety of place or the condition of the soil where it grew, how it is stored, and the length of time since it was harvested and how it was prepared.

Following are the list of fruits and vegetables and their corresponding amount of vitamin C:

Plant source: Amount: (mg / 100g fruit)

Raspberry 30

Grapefruit 30

Garlic 31

Cauliflower 40

Melon, Cantaloupe 40

Lemon 40

Kale 41

Orange 50

Strawberry 60

Papaya 60

A reduction in vitamin C from inadequate dietary intake or impaired absorption research studies reveal that this lack of vitamin C may result to scurvy. Scurvy is a disease marked by spongy gums, loosened teeth, and bleeding under the skin.…