Vitamin C most remarkable benefits

Fri. Feb. 3, 2012

(NaturalHealth365) Vitamin C intake is essential for collagen production, healing of wounds, fighting off infections, cancer prevention and heart health.

Vitamin C is known as L-ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate. It is an antioxidant vitamin found in vegetables and fruit. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, which means you can’t store it. The daily diet must include an adequate supply. This means plenty of vegetables such as broccoli, citrus fruits, and tomatoes.

Vitamin C is one of the first nutrients to be discovered. A British surgeon name James Lind, discovered in the 1700s that citrus fruits healed scurvy. Vitamin C itself was discovered in the 1930s. Ascorbic acid is from Latin which means without scurvy. This should have elevated vitamin C as an all around healer. It can turn off cancer cells, slow vascular damage, and improve the outcome of many chronic conditions.

Vitamin C is needed for growth and repair. The body needs it to make collagen for skin health and elasticity, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is used for healing wounds, and warding off gum disease.

Inadequate levels of vitamin C are associated with many conditions from high blood pressure to some cancers. It is implicated in the build-up of plaque that leads to atherosclerosis.

Immunity

To strengthen your body’s natural defenses you need in particular an adequate level of vitamin C. This vitamin benefits the production of white blood cells called neutrophils and interferons. Neutrophils are a key defense against bacteria and fungal infections. Interferons are antibodies, which are released in response to pathogens such as bacteria, virus and parasites.

Heart Disease

These conditions are linked to heart disease: hardening of the arteries, angina, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. What vitamin C sees does is keep arteries flexible, slow down the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and helps prevent oxidative damage to LDL (bad) cholesterol. These are the things that can lead to heart failure and high blood pressure.

Collagen Production

Collagen is the main component of connective tissue. Vitamin C is an essential part of the production of collagen. This is one of the undisputed attributes of vitamin C. The reason: scurvy is the breaking down of collagen as a result of a vitamin C deficiency. Collagen is what helps keep the youthful appearance of your skin. It is used in anti-wrinkle preparations formulated by skin care companies.

The synthesis of collagen is an important component of blood vessels, corneas, cartilage, the gut and tendons. A person who has scurvy stops manufacturing collagen. The person’s joints fail, because the body can’t keep the cartilage and tendons strong. The blood vessels break down, gums ulcerate and recede, and immune function is compromised. The gut where immunity starts depends on the production of collagen.

A Simple Truth

All the research and all the studies, which wind up discouraging people from taking vitamin C for colds, flu, cancer, heart disease are bogus. The largest real time study has happen on sailing ships in the 1700s. Most studies say the majority of people get the minimum daily requirement of vitamin C. The other studies aren’t sure vitamin C helps with various conditions.

Modern living has lead to many conditions including premature aging, which includes gum disease, dry brittle hair, hardening of the arteries, and poor immune systems. Sounds like modern day scurvy, or sub-clinical scurvy. Poor health doesn’t mean you need a severe form of vitamin C deficiency to cause problems.

Food Sources

The Answer isn’t only in a pill, lemons cured scurvy. There is an abundant choice of vitamin C rich foods. These include: oranges, watermelon, papaya, grapefruit, lemons, cantaloupe, strawberries, kiwi, mango, broccoli, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, leafy greens (turnip greens, spinach), red and green peppers, potatoes, winter squash, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and pineapple. Vitamin C is sensitive to light; air, and heat, so fresh organic vegetables and fruits are the key to obtaining a good supply.

About the author Blanche has been a student of natural healing modalities for the last 25 years. She had the privilege of working with some of the greatest minds in Natural Healing including Naturopaths, Scientist, and Energy Healers. Having seen people miraculously heal from all kinds of dis-ease through non-invasive methods, her passion now is to help people become aware of what it takes to be healthy.