Vitamin C is Good for You!

Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid or L- ascorbic acid is one of the essential vitamins derived from plants. Scurvy is a disease associated with lack of vitamin c. Vitamin C is the most effective antioxidant in our blood, due to its water solubility and to the wide range of radical oxygen species (ROS) that it can scavenge. It’s great for a whole range of health issues, like high blood pressure, stroke, cancers, atherosclerosis, inflammation and obesity. Additional uses include improving physical endurance and slowing aging, as well as counteracting the side effects of cortisone and related drugs, aiding drug withdrawal in addiction, and reducing side effects of radiation therapy.

Sometimes, people put vitamin C on their skin to protect it against the sun, pollutants, and other environmental hazards. Vitamin C is also applied to the skin to help with damage from radiation therapy.

Sources of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is available in abundance in many natural sources, including fresh fruits and vegetables. The richest sources include:

• Indian gooseberry (700 mg/100 g)
• citrus fruits, such as limes, oranges and lemons
• tomatoes and tomato juice
• potatoes
• green and red peppers
• kiwifruit, strawberries and cantaloupes
• green leafy vegetables such as broccoli
• fortified cereals

Health benefits of vitamin c

Vitamin C deficiency. 

Taking vitamin C by mouth or injecting as a shot prevents and treats vitamin C deficiency, including scurvy. Also, taking vitamin C can reverse problems associated with scurvy.

Iron absorption. 

Vitamin C along with iron can improves iron absorption in adults and children.

A genetic disorder in newborns called tyrosinemia. 

Taking vitamin C by mouth or as a shot improves a genetic disorder in newborns in which blood levels of the amino acid tyrosine are too high.

Irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation). 

Taking vitamin C before and for a few days after heart surgery helps prevent irregular heartbeat after heart surgery.

Common cold. 

There is some controversy about the effectiveness of vitamin C for treating the common cold. However, most research shows that taking 1-3 grams of vitamin C might shorten the course of the cold by 1 to 1.5 days. Taking vitamin C does not appear to prevent colds.

Age-related vision loss (age-related muscular degeneration; AMD). 

Taking vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc might help in prevent AMD from becoming worse in people at high risk for developing advanced AMD.

Gout. 

Higher intake of vitamin C from the diet is linked to a lower risk of gout in men. But vitamin C doesn't help treat gout.

Upper airway infections caused by heavy exercise. 

Using vitamin C before heavy physical exercise, such as a marathon, might prevent upper airway infections that can occur after heavy exercise.

Abnormal breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia). 

Taking vitamin C supplements might help manage anemia in people undergoing dialysis.

High blood pressure. 

Taking vitamin C along with medicine to lower blood pressure helps lower systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by a small amount. But it does not seem to lower diastolic pressure (the bottom number). Taking vitamin C does not seem to lower blood pressure when taken without medicine to lower blood pressure.

Lead poisoning. 

Consuming vitamin C in the diet seems to lower blood levels of lead.

High cholesterol. 

Taking vitamin C might reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol in people with high cholesterol.

Osteoarthritis. 

Taking vitamin C from dietary sources or from calcium ascorbate supplements seems to prevent cartilage loss and worsening of symptoms in people with osteoarthritis.

Sunburn. 

Taking vitamin C by mouth or applying it to the skin along with vitamin E might prevent sunburn. But taking vitamin C alone does not prevent sunburn.

Wrinkled skin. 

Skin creams containing vitamin C seem to improve the appearance of wrinkled skin.

Cancer. 

Higher intake of vitamin C from food is linked with a lower risk of developing cancer. But taking vitamin C supplements doesn't seem to prevent cancer. In people diagnosed with advanced cancer, taking large doses (10 grams) of vitamin C by mouth doesn't seem to improve survival or prevent cancer from getting worse. But high doses of vitamin C might increase survival when given by IV.

Heart disease. 

Research on the use of vitamin C for heart disease is controversial. More research on the use of vitamin C supplements for preventing heart disease is needed. But increasing intake of vitamin C from food might provide some benefit.

Side effects of chemotherapy. 

Early research suggests that higher intake of vitamin C from food is linked with fewer chemotherapy side effects in children being treated for leukemia.

Diabetes. 

Taking vitamin C supplements might improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes. But results are conflicting. Higher intake of vitamin C from food isn't linked with a lower risk of developing diabetes.

Gallbladder disease. 

Taking vitamin C might help to prevent gallbladder disease in women but not men.