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Vitamin C - L-Ascorbic Acid

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is very sensitive to
light and heat and can thus be adversely affected by heat
and cooking It is an anti-oxidant and helps fight infection.

Vitamin C is also destroyed when it comes into contact
with metal which can destroy up to 40% of the vitamin C.

Commonly known for warding off colds and flu, vitamin C is
also one of the most powerful antioxidant's around and is
required for collagen formation.

The recommended amount is 45 - 60 mg daily, however
the recommended daily intake is insufficient to offer the
antioxidant action that Vitamin C can provide.

Although Vitamin C is a water soluble Vitamin, as are the
B Vitamins. Some experts consider amounts of Vitamin C
in excess of 1000mg daily to be potentially hazardous to
your health. Although, consuming 1000mg a day has
shown no adverse effects.

Smokers need alot more vitamin C than non-smokers.

When considering purchasing a vitamin C supplement, one
should consider the absorbability of it. Tablets tend to
pass through the digestive tract undigested, therefore it is
advisable to buy vitamin C in either a powdered form or in
capsules.

Also, Vitamin C is better absorbed in the presence of
bioflavanoids.

What does Vitamin C do?

Vitamin C keeps cells healthy, especially connective tissue
- the structural tissue in the body that keeps it all together.

Vitamin C promotes collagen production, and is essential
for the functioning of neurotransmitters such as dopamine
and serotonin.

Vitamin C assists with the absorption of iron, tissue repair
and wound healing.

Vitamin C accumulates inside white blood cells to help
keep your immune system strong and healthy.

Where is Vitamin C found?

Vitamin C is found in abundance naturally in the follow
foods:

All citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit,
tangerines, tropical fruits such as paw-paw, pineapples,
bananas, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini,
kiwi fruit and most berries, Camu Camu has 30 - 60 times
the Vitamin C of oranges.

What happens if I don't get enough Vitamin C?

Scurvy can occur in people who don't eat fruit or
vegetables, however scurvy is rare today.

Symptoms and effects of vitamin C deficiency include
wrinkles, weakened immunity, increased susceptibility to
infections, Parkinson's disease.

The Arizona University under took a study done 1997, led
by Carol Johnstone Ph.D where blood samples were taken
from a random group of 494 middle aged people. The
results showed that 30 % were depleted of vitamin C and
6.3% were extremely vitamin C deficient.

What happens if I get too much Vitamin C?

This is unlikely unless your going to be stupid and take
things to an extreme.

It is considered that large amounts can cause kidney
stones and possibly damage blood vessels, cause
nutritional imbalances, diarrhea, and interfere with the
action of vitamin E, as well as deprive tissues of oxygen.

However, it is a water soluble vitamin and if you take more
than your body requires it should just be excreted in your
urine and sweat.