Vitamin C and You
Your body needs vitamins, whether it be from food or supplements, in order to function properly. Vitamin C is one such important vitamin. A lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, a disease which manifests itself physically through swollen legs, tiredness and itchiness. Sailors in the 19th century were prone to this disease because of the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables on long sea journeys. Today, the best way to provide the body with vitamin C is through foods such as green peppers, citrus fruits, broccoli and tomatoes. In addition, there are many drinks on the market such as Emergen-C and supplements that you can take that will provide you with the Vitamin C that you need.
There are thirteen vitamins that the body needs a steady supply and vitamin C (sometimes called ascorbic acid) is one of them. A few of these vitamins are fat-soluble, which basically means that our bodies can store them for future use. However, Vitamin C is not fat-soluble and thus is not stored by the body. This means that in order to keep ourselves healthy and happy, we must ingest vitamin C, in one form or another, every day. The recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C varies according to age, weight and health, but everyone should have vitamin C every day.
What is the purpose of Vitamin C? vitamin C is an antioxidant, which basically means that it protects the body against free radicals in the environment that may cause cell damage. In addition, vitamin C may also have anti-aging properties. Large doses of Vitamin c (1000mg or more) may also assist in reducing or eliminating symptoms associated with the common cold and may reduce the duration of a cold. Please note that this information is not meant to diagnose or treat your specific condition. Please do not make any changes to your current medical program without first consulting a medical professional.
If you and your doctor decide that taking Vitamin C supplements are right for you, be sure that you follow your doctor’s recommended rate of dosage. Although your body does need Vitamin C on a daily basis, there is a possibility of taking too much vitamin C. If you do take more Vitamin C than your body can properly use, you may experience diarrhea and other side effects. In addition, check the labels of Vitamin C supplements before purchasing, to ensure that you are buying the right dosage per pill.
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin for your health and well-being. Take care to always include it in your diet. Check with your doctor if you have any further questions about Vitam in C supplementation.
January 20th, 2009Topic: Health Tags: None
