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.
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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