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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Vitamin C to the rescue

Get essential nutrients from fruits and veggies
 
Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble nutrient that must be regularly replenished. It's found in abundance in citrus fruits, rosehips, blackcurrants, cranberries, melons, mango, strawberries, kiwi fruits, peppers and more.
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Hundreds of years ago, sailors suffered horribly from a disease called scurvy — until a British doctor discovered that a ration of lime juice prevented its onset (hence the nickname "Limey" for sailors of old).

Scurvy (now known to be a deficiency of vitamin C) is unlikely to occur in modern-day populations; however, possible signs of a deficiency include fatigue, easy bruising, bleeding gums, and poor wound healing. Those at greatest risk include diabetics, smokers, and athletes.

Vitamin C is an essential (meaning our body can't make it so we have to get it from our diet), water-soluble nutrient that must be regularly replenished. It's found in abundance in citrus fruits, rosehips, blackcurrants, cranberries, melons, mango, strawberries, kiwi fruit, tomatoes, asparagus, cruciferous vegetables, and peppers.



Vitamin C and the common cold


Vitamin C's ability to prevent the common cold, particularly in those individuals supplementing with a daily vitamin C tablet, is well-known. In clinical trials of people under acute physical stress, vitamin C supplementation has been shown to reduce common cold occurrence by 50 per cent.



C'ing more health benefits

Vitamin C is an antioxidant and may possess anticancer and detoxifying properties. It has also been associated with the following health benefits:
  • Prevents asthma, cataracts, glaucoma, gingivitis, and the common cold
  • Enhances iron absorption (important to prevent iron-deficiency anemia)
  • Decreases blood levels of histamine (important for allergy and hay fever prevention and treatment)
  • Reduces oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the bad type)
  • Aids in the synthesis of collagen
  • Heals wounds and burns
So, whether you're a Limey or a landlubber, get your vitamin C by eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables daily.

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