ALL YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT VITAMIN C

                                            ALL YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT VITAMIN C 

Vitamin C or Ascorbic acid a water soluble vitamin  which is essential for the normal growth and development of the body 

Vitamin C was identified in the early 1930s  when research was going on a disease called scurvy which was prevalent among the sailors in those days .The sailors deprived  of fruits  and other raw food items for months  suffered from this disease . The symptoms included bleeding and swollen gums . loosing and eventual loss of the teeth ( see pic below ) . JAMES LIND ,  a medical  officer  in the  ROYAL NAVY  first noticed that the ships carrying citrus juices in their ration  did not report cases of  scurvy . Later on research  identified that presence of Vitamin C in citrus juices that prevented the scurvy

SCURVY  CAUSED DUE TO VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY WAS LETHAL IN SAILORS

 Vitamin  c is very imp  and has been reported to provide immense benefits to the body . It cannot be produced or stored in the human body and that makes it essential to consume it regularly to prevent any side effects

  IMPORTANCE  OF VITAMIN C

  1) vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is used to:

• Form an important protein used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels
• Heal wounds and form scar tissue
• Repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth

2) Vitamin C supplements enhance the health-promoting effects of exercise and reduce exercise-induced oxidative damage

3)  help in absorption of iron in stomach and can help in preventing and treating iron deficiency anemia

4)Vitamin C supplements also dramatically combat the oxidative damage caused by smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke and is widely regarded as an effective antioxidant .

5)In respiratory conditions, vitamin C supplements help avert or shorten the duration of common colds and may mitigate the risk of serious respiratory conditions like asthma.

6)Vitamin C supplements can speed the clearance of the stomach disease-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori and cut the risk of gastric cancer

 7)Proven to enhance collagen  production it it very effective in skin treatments . It prevents wrinkle formation . tighten the skin prevents sun damage and  discoloration

SOURCES OF VITAMIN C

 Raw vegetables and citrus fruit items like Broccoli, Cauliflower Kiwi Fruits. lemon ,Oranges,Strawberries are  great source of  vitamin c . medicinally  vitamin c tablets are present as over the counter although the chewable form of vit c tablet should be avoided as it known to cause damage to the teeth

the importance of vitamin c has been identified and so you see now a days vitamin c rich squashes, glucose supplements and other health drinks  being fortified with vitamin c   

 LEMONS

                                 

                                                 BROCCOLI

 KIWI

Vitamin c being water soluble  so even if if we take excess of it  ,there is no toxicity of it  as excess amount is easily excreted out in urine by our kidney .  although vitamin c excess intake is very unlikely to cause any major side effect it is known to cause indigestion and diarrhea when taken in excess for a long time