 |
|
Vitamin C, not just for Christmas? |
|
|
Everyone is familiar with the notion that eating vitamin C in the winter will help keep away colds, this is true, however, vitamin C plays a much more important role than is recognised. Vitamin C plays an important role in maintaining your health for example it helps maintain gums, teeth and bones, healing of wounds, controlling blood pressure and the absorption of other minerals that we eat. RDAIn Europe it is recommended that 60mg of vitamin C a day is required, the large majority of people fall short of this even in summer.Although a single orange would deliver the RDA vitamin C is easily lost in the body, through exercise, the preparation of fruit and vegetables causes loss of vitamin C, through cutting and boiling therefore people who even eat fruit and vegetables every day only receives about 55mg. Now before you rush out and start buying lots of fruit, vegetables and vitamin C supplements, bear this in mind. Too much vitamin C can cause side effects and do more harm than good, 500mg is the maximum amount that should be consumed. |
Life at seaThe recognition that vitamin C prevented sailors from getting scurvy on long voyages in 1601, lead to the investigation of vitamin C in the beginning of the 20th century.There is some controversy surrounding the fact that large doses of Vitamin C can help overcome colds, although many trails have been carried out, there has been no strong conclusion. Overall it seems that although not preventing the cold it does shorten its length. Vitamin C is probably the most important anti-oxidant in the body, this helps protect the body against free radicals which can be found in pollution, cigarette smoke, UV rays, alcohol and stress. It has been shown that in athletes who take vitamin C they perform better for long and recover quicker. If vitamin C is taken over a long period of time (years), it can help reduce the risk of cataracts and strokes in the elderly. |
 Home |
Contact Us |