The Health Benefits Of Consuming Foods Enriched With Vitamin C‏

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), is the most consumed vitamin worldwide and is popular of all nutrients. Vitamin C is very important for the proper functioning of our body, it is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in our bodies and as such we need to consume it on a regular basis.

Vitamin C is an organic compound comprised of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and is essential to our everyday lives.

Vitamin C is very important for our bodies to make collagen, which is a protein that helps support tendons, ligaments and blood vessels and keeps the skin and other organs together.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble which basically means that the body does not store it.

In order to get sufficient amount of this incredible vitamin we must consume foods that are an excellent source, such as citrus fruits, broccoli, tomatoes, watermelon, cabbage, grapefruit, strawberries, mango, kiwi, cauliflower, papaya, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple and potatoes just to name a few. Fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C is best eaten raw because the vitamin is said to be sensitive to light, heat and air.

Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid
Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid and has several important functions.

Ascorbic acid popularly known as vitamin C was first discovered by a British doctor who found out that there was a link between our diet and scurvy, a disease caused by the lack of vitamin C. Scurvy had plagued the world for thousands of years a disease that leads to spots on the skin, and bleeding from most of our mucous membrane.

Scurvy was a very common illness on ships that affected many sailors. The British doctor conducted a variety of treatments and only oranges and lemons were the most effective in treating the disease. In the 1920’s Albert Szent-Gyorgyi isolated a substance from the adrenal glands that he called “hexuronic acid”.

Years later Charles Glen King isolated vitamin C in his laboratory and concluded that it was the same as “hexuronic acid”. The chemical was deduced by Norman Haworth in 1933.

There are numerous health benefits that derive from the consumption of vitamin C, it helps in the reduction of blood pressure and thus lessens the chances of hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, protects our eyes, supports the immune system especially from infections (cold, influenza), bacteria and viruses, it also maintains healthy bones and teeth and weight loss as fruits with vitamin C helps people to lose and maintain a healthy weight and there’s scientific evidence that proves that foods enriched with vitamin C when consumed regularly is an excellent choice for us.

This magnificient vitamin helps our bodies to deal with stress, protect or treats various cancers such as throat, colon, stomach and lung and also boosts the bodies metabolism.

Other benefits from consuming foods with vitamin C are the protection and treatment of heart disease, diabetes, the vitamin helps to regulate sugar levels, asthma, heals wounds and fights against hair disorders.

There are so many benefits from this powerful vitamin but not consuming this very important vitamin can make us very sick although it have become uncommon because modern day foods contain some vitamin C but nevertheless not getting enough can lead to gingivitis (a gum disease), decreased the ability to ward off infections, high blood pressure, stroke and cancer.

Vitamin C can be found in many forms but the most popular ones are multivitamins, tablets, capsules and chewables. The best way to get this is to contact a health care practitioner or eat a well balanced diet that includes vitamin C.