Vitamin C is one of the more important vitamins that play valuable roles for our overall health. It is very important in the collagen production which makes our blood vessels stronger and helps in the development of various tissues.
Scurvy is a disease mainly caused by the deficiency of vitamin C. This particular disease mainly affected sailors in the past and the one who first discovered it was Hippocrates (13th century). People who lack fresh fruits and vegetables in their eating plan are at high risk of developing this disease. Scurvy leads to appearance of spots on the skin, bleeding gums, mucous membrane bleeding. The acute form of this disease can cause severe teeth loss, wound infections, etc. Additionally, the person suffering from this disease can experience obesity (slow metabolism), nosebleeds, anemia, and arthritis. Most of these diseases are caused by weak immunity because of low vitamin C levels.
The recommended daily allowance of vitamin C is from 60 mg to 3 gr per day. As you may already know, fresh fruits and vegetables are the best sources of this vitamin. Some of the best sources of vitamin C are broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, kiwi, lemon, orange or grapefruit juice, etc.
What are the Benefits of Vitamin C
All the diseases and unwanted symptoms mentioned above can be prevented by adequate intake of vitamin C. Additionally, there are many other benefits of vitamin C, so let’s talk more about them.
The antioxidant features of vitamin C are very well known, so it can play a great role in the prevention of cataract and heart diseases. This happens because vitamin C doesn’t allow the cholesterol to oxidize in the blood. Some other diseases which can be relieved with proper vitamin C use are asthma, high blood pressure, blood sugar problems, and so on. Women suffering from infertility should use vitamin C during their treatment, and also, men with low sperm count can benefit greatly from vitamin C. During pregnancy, taking vitamin C is recommended because it is great for the bones of the mother and additionally it prevents birth defects in babies. Vitamin C is additionally used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Some recent studies have shown that vitamin C minimizes the chances of many different cancers and is used in the cancer treatment as a supplement. Vitamin C has great effects on the health of our skin. It prevents the appearance of wrinkles and the healing time of many wounds is drastically shortened if the affected person takes vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the most frequently used vitamins when common cold and allergies are in question.
Vitamin C is available everywhere and there is no excuse if you are taking low amounts of it. Now when you know what the benefits of vitamin C are, all you have to do is to make a few minor changes in your diet and include more fresh fruits and vegetables. If you eat enough of everything, you can say that you have a balanced and healthy diet.
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