Health: Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, otherwise known as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is responsible for many functions in your body. What does Vitamin C do? Vitamin C is an antioxidant and can protect your body from free radicals, which may cause heart disease and cancer. Vitamin C is responsible for producing collagen. Collagen is present in your muscles and bones. It is responsible for holding the cells together. Vitamin C helps your immune system. It helps you heal from scrapes and bruises. Vitamin C also keeps your gums healthy. People with lack of Vitamin C often develop black, swollen gums otherwise known as scurvy. People who do not consume enough Vitamin C often develop the following symptoms: Swollen Gums Wounds that don't heal Easy bruising Bleeding Gums If you consume too much Vitamin C, it may not be harmful. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin therefore excess amount is excreted in your urine. But it can develop symptoms such as kidney stones and diarrhea because it is an acid. The average (nonsmoking) person should consume 60 mg of Vitamin C per day. This can be found in 3/4 cup of orange juice. People who smoke need more Vitamin C than others. Their requirement is 100 mg a day. You can obtain Vitamin C from citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits. You can also obtain a significant amount from tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and even potatoes. Vitamin C is good for protecting your body. For vegetarians it is even healthier. When combined with iron, iron becomes more absorbable allowing an increased iron intake.