Vitamin C Benefits
Helps Fight Free Radicals, Colds and Flu and Protects Against Cancer
Oct 12, 2009
One of the main five network antioxidants, vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant which needs to be obtained through food or supplements as it is not made by the body. A potent free radical eliminator, it is essential for a strong and healthy immune system. Those who take vitamin C supplements daily, significantly reduce their risk of dying of cancer and heart disease.
Fight Free Radicals with Vitamin C
Within the antioxidant network vitamin C is the link that connects fat soluble antioxidants to water soluble ones. Vitamin C’s function is to recharge the fat soluble vitamin E when it becomes a free radical. Lipoic acid also regenerates vitamin E, but vitamin C does a better job.
Vitamin C and Cancer
Although there is no real evidence to suggest antioxidants can reverse cancer once you have it, there is plenty of proof that it may offer strong free radical protection against the disease. There is a lot of evidence of the effectiveness of vitamin C in the prevention of oral and gastrointestinal cancers. This is probably due to fact that vitamin C helps protect against nitrosamines, the cancer-causing agents found in foods that may be responsible for certain cancers of the mouth, stomach and colon.
Heart Disease and Vitamin C
By boosting vitamin E, vitamin C can help prevent the oxidation of lipoproteins. This oxidation process is now thought to play a major role in the hardening of arteries. Lipoproteins are particularly susceptible to free radical activity. According to studies at the School of Public Health at UCLA, taking vitamin C supplements can reduce the risk of heart disease.
Vitamin C and Colds and Flu
It was the famous Dr. Linus Pauling who first touted vitamin C as a cure for common colds and many people still take massive doses at the first signs of one. Recent studies have shown that while vitamin C may lessen the severity and duration of a common cold, it is not a cure and cannot prevent them. However, taking vitamin C will certainly help you shake the symptoms off faster.
How Much Vitamin C?
As vitamin C is water soluble, the body will naturally expel any excess via the urine. Taking megadoses of vitamin C is unlikely to cause any long term damage; however, it may produce abdominal cramping and diarrhea. On rare occasions, certain people may have an adverse reaction to megadoses, but there have only been a few reported cases. Generally speaking, the body can only make use of around 250 milligrams of vitamin C every few hours or so. Taking supplements at regular intervals throughout the day is best way to ensure maximum absorption.
Sources: The Antioxidant Miracle, Lester Packer PHd and Carol Colman, 1999, John Wiley & Sons.
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