Wednesday, May 30, 2012

TOP 10 VITAMIN C BENEFITS


There are many Vitamin C benefits that truly help our bodies stay fit and healthy. Vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid, plays a huge role in regulating our body and protecting it from infections. Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables and it’s fairly easy to get your daily Vitamin C dose with fruits. Vitamin C can also be taken in pill or tablet form if it is required. One of the most important Vitamin C benefits is the strength it gives to our immune system. Vitamin C strengthens our immune system and allows us to recover from colds quickly. It also prevents the progression of the cold into a more severe disease like pneumonia. Scientific studies have proven that Vitamin C reduces many symptoms of colds such as runny noses, coughing, and sore throats.

There are quite a few other Vitamin C benefits too. For example, did you know that Vitamin C helps ensure that your blood vessels dilate in a safe manner? This prevents hypertension from occurring. Hypertension can lead to future complications such as cardiovascular diseases. It’s surprising that healthy hearts are one of many Vitamin C benefits.

Another aspect of Vitamin C benefits are its effects on our eyes. Our eyes are often exposed to UV rays from the sun which is dangerous. These UV rays often create free radicals in our eyes that can cause eye damage and create cataracts. However, Vitamin C is an antioxidant which keeps our eyes healthy by counteracting the free radicals. Daily Vitamin C consumption will ensure that your eyes stay healthy for a long time.

Another one of many Vitamin C benefits is the fact that it prevents scurvy. Scurvy is a very dangerous disease resulting from a lack of Vitamin C in the diet. Many sailors used to die of scurvy before the advent of refrigeration. This was because fruits and vegetables spoiled quickly and thus could be taken on long voyages. The crew had to rely on salted foods which had no Vitamin C. This created a high rate of scurvy among ship crews which killed many sailors during long voyages. Thankfully scurvy is nonexistent today because almost everyone has access to Vitamin C even on long voyages on ships. The advent of refrigeration has been a boon for preserving fruits and vegetables on long trips.

Vitamin C is also a vital nutrient for asthma patients. Asthma patients often need Vitamin C in larger doses because it acts as an antioxidant in their lungs and air pipes. This is one of the most underrated Vitamin C benefits.

There are so many Vitamin C benefits  that it would be unwise to not take your daily requirement of Vitamin C. The US Academy of Science recommends that the average adult male take a minimum of 90 mg a day, and the average adult female should take 75 gram a day. However taking 500-1000 g a day when you’re sick is a good idea too.

sources: http://www.vitamincbenefits.org/

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