Why Vitamin C is very important to human body?
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in bones. Vitamin C is also vital to your body's healing process.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant
that helps protect your cells against the effects of free radicals — molecules
produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and
radiation from the sun, X-rays or other sources. Free radicals might play a
role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Vitamin C also helps your
body absorb and store iron.
Because your body
doesn't produce vitamin C, you need to get it from your diet. Vitamin C is
found in citrus fruits, berries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, Brussels
sprouts, broccoli and spinach. Vitamin C is also available as an oral
supplement, typically in the form of capsules and chewable tablets.
Most people get enough
vitamin C from a healthy diet. Vitamin C deficiency is more likely in people
who:
·
Smoke or are exposed
to secondhand smoking
·
Have certain
gastrointestinal conditions or certain types of cancer
·
Have a limited diet
that doesn't regularly include fruits and vegetables
Severe vitamin C
deficiency can lead to a disease called scurvy, which causes anemia, bleeding
gums, bruising and poor wound healing.
If you take vitamin C
for its antioxidant properties, keep in mind that the supplement might not
offer the same benefits as naturally occurring antioxidants in food.
The recommended daily amount of vitamin C is 90 milligrams for adult men and 75 milligrams for adult women.
