Quick Facts About Vitamin C

Vitamin C is probably the body's best panacea. Since Linus Pauling, the Nobel winning scientist, recommended it for fighting flu, it has gone on to become the body's premier anti-oxidant.

What it does

Anti-oxidants are special substances in the body that fight free radicals. Free radicals are responsible for making one grow older (by, indirectly, causing inflammation). Everybody should take between 500 mg and 1000 mg of Vitamin C per day. Not only does it make a cold disappear faster, but it slows down wrinkles by ensuring that the collagen in the skin remains firm.

Vitamin C has many different functions, ranging from increasing energy to helping with allergy problems. An extra dose of Vitamin C also helps to improve the mood because it plays a part in forming the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, in the brain.

Where its found

The vitamin is easily found in mother nature. The best sources are broccoli, oranges, kiwi fruit, red and green peppers, tomatoes and spinach. Probably, it's best to have a little of each of these substances every day as each has other benefits to offer those that wish to remain young and healthy.

There are plenty of Vitamin C supplements about, but all are not equal. Taking the RDA (recommended daily allowance) of 67 mg per day isn't going to do much for you. That's because the RDA is the least amount the body needs to prevent illness. Optimal amounts, on the other hand, make sure one is the best one can be. So, it's best to look for a supplement of between 500 mg and 1000 mg.

Different types of supplements

There are powdered forms and capsule forms. The powdered form can be taken in a drink each morning and is thought to be digested better. However, it doesn't have a good taste. The capsule and tablet forms are far easier and quicker to take. They may take a little longer to digest, though.

Vitamin C tablets also come in different formulations like ester-C, ascorbic acid and acerola berries. Some are better than others. Large doses of ascorbic acid are said to make the stomach too acid while ester-C is said to be absorbed more quickly and easily.

Deficiencies of Vitamin C