Vitamin C - don't forget to get plenty!
Originally uploaded by LHDumes
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) assists the body in the production of collagen, a basic component of connective tissues. Collagen is an important structural element in blood vessel walls, gums, and bones, making it particularly important to those recovering from wounds and surgery.
Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant, scavenging potentially harmful molecules called free radicals. Although not firmly established by clinical trials, this antioxidant capacity may help boost immune function, protect against cancer, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration of the retina, and other chronic diseases. Vitamin C intake may be particularly helpful to smokers, as they are more likely to suffer from oxidative stress and cell damage that can deplete vitamin C. Vitamin C also enhances iron absorption.
Where can you get Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is obtainable from many types of fruits and vegetables. In dietary supplements, it typically is sold in the form of ascorbic acid , calcium ascorbate (Ester-C®), sodium ascorbate, or a combination of these forms.
All these photographs are the property of the phtoographers linked to below. While you're at it, check out their other photos becasue there's so many wonderful ones to see. Enjoy and be healthy!
1. Fresh Juice, 2. Saturday refreshments, 3. Day 69 of 365 - Orange, 4. Juicy grapefruit macro, 5. Body and Soul, 6. fruit tart - 3, 7. Tall Glass, 8. Kitchen Utensil, 9. When life gives you lemons, take photos of them (1), 10. kiwi, 11. Not available, 12. High Key Lemon, 13. Red and Yellow Peppers on a White Background
Created with fd's Flickr Toys
There's so much that the body needs to maintain good health, but one good place to start is by getting enough Vitamin C.
Interestingly enough, I've learned through reading that FROZEN orange juice actually contains more vitamin C than fresh OJ from the supermarket. The homogenization actually destroys some of this valuable nutrient. So, if you're not squeezing it yourself, it's perfectly fine to have frozen OJ. Don't forget that green leafy vegetables are very rich in not only Vit. C, but also so many other nutrients that it's very wise to make sure that you eat some of these every single day.
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