Everything You Need to Know About Vitamin C
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Our body is an amazing machine, capable of producing even the most complex compound when needed. But human body, like everything else, is not perfect. Vitamin C is one of those essential nutrients that are required for the normal functioning of the body, but it cannot be synthesized by the body naturally . The same goes for other vitamins whether for human or animals. Like vitamin A for instance, which according to the WHO would reduce worms in dogs by using worm tablets for dogs . In fact, they believe that delivering vitamin A and dog or cat worming tablets together makes sense for pets as it will for humans.
Biological Perspective
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble group of vitamin that is not produced by the human body. The most important function of Vitamin C is collagen synthesis. Collagen is a structural protein that is found in the space between human (and animal) cells, responsible for connecting tissues.
In total, Vitamin C takes part in at least 8 enzymatic activities that occur in the human body. It does so by acting as an anti-oxidant and donating electrons to these enzymatic processes. You can read in details about how exactly Vitamin C works within our body here:
Lack of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient because it is necessary for the healthy functioning of the human body. Lack of Vitamin C can lead to many conditions. The most prominent condition is scurvy, caused by the lack of Vitamin C and subsequent inability of collagen to function properly. Scurvy leads to various other ailments, including bleeding and formation of spots.
Uses of Vitamin C
Vitamin C does not cure many conditions, but it is still considered a vital nutrient because it rarely has any side effects. Some conditions where Vitamin C is found to be effective are:
Scurvy: Since scurvy is caused by the deficiency of Vitamin C, it can also be cured with the same. Once the level of Vitamin C reaches normal in the blood, the collagen becomes stable and the effects of scurvy gradually disappear.
Common Cold: While it is debated whether Vitamin C actually prevents common cold, it has been observed that regular dose of Vitamin C improves immunity and shortens the recovery period. A similar effect is seen in case of other infections.
Click here to read more about the uses of Vitamin C.
Sources of Vitamin C
Plants are the primary sources of Vitamin C in nature. There are numerous vegetables and fruits that can provide human body with ample of Vitamin C. Some of them are:
Vegetables: Asparagus, potatoes and tomatoes have decent content of Vitamin C, same goes for broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Peppers, particularly red bell peppers, have high Vitamin C content. Leafy green vegetables also provide Vitamin C, apart from a horde of other nutrients. Breads, cereals and grains can also provide Vitamin C.
Fruits: Fruits are generally considered a better source of Vitamin C. Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons have high Vitamin C content. Apples, berries, melons and kiwi also provide Vitamin C to our body.
Others Sources: Some food items are supplemented with artificially-produced Vitamin C, particularly in the processed food items you find in supermarkets.
To know about all the food items that can provide you with Vitamin C, visit the following link:
