The Wonder Vitamin:

Vitamin C has long been one of the most popular vitamins. In recent years, as more studies are being conducted, we are finding out just how beneficial this vitamin is and how essential it is to maintaining good health.

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and reduces the damage done to your immune system by free radicals. In addition, it can also remove harmful lead from your bloodstream and prevent a host of different conditions.

The recommended daily requirements for Vitamin C are 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. If you are a smoker, which depletes your body's reserves of vitamin C, it is important to have 110 mgs for women and 125 mg for men. However, most doctors recommended around 200 mg a day average.

Going over this amount can cause some problems, although many people ingest as much as 2000 mg a day without a problem. Some side effects for too much vitamin C include diarrhea and stomach upset. If you are taking a large quantity of vitamin C it is important to make sure that there is a buffering agent included so that it will not adversely affect your stomach.

Some of the more well-known healing properties of vitamin C include the strengthening of immune systems and assisting in the recovery process when you are already ill. Many people suffering from colds or flu have greatly reduced the amount of time they spend being sick by adding vitamin C to their diet.

The good benefits of vitamin C also include eye health. It has been shown to reduce the risk of cataracts and prevent glaucoma. The lens of the eye contains vitamin C and as we age, this amount lessens, leaving our lens wide open for damage. By supplementing vitamin C in your diet, you can prevent these diseases from occurring and possibly reverse existing damage over time.

Proper wound healing is another benefit that can be derived from vitamin C. If you are a slow healer, adding vitamin C can greatly reduce your recovery time and speed the healing process.

Sufferers of asthma and chronic bronchitis have also found relief with vitamin C. The vitamin C assists lung function and improves the quality of your air passages.

As more studies are conducted, many more benefits are being discovered. It is highly recommended to supplement your diet with foods containing vitamin C naturally, such as apples and oranges. If you are not able to eat fruit, you may want to consider adding a supplement in pill form, as long as there is a buffering agent to aid your digestion and absorption.

As always, it is important to check with your doctor before adding anything new to your dietary rotation.

<< Back