Vitamins and Minerals > Vitamin C

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an important water-soluble vitamin that the human body can't produce. Therefore, It must come from foods or supplements. Fruits and vegetables are the most valuable food sources for vitamin C. Nutritional supplements are typically sold as ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate, or a combination of these.

Vitamin C helps in the production of collagen, a basic component of connective tissue. Collagen is a vital structural element in blood vessel walls, bones, and, gums. Thus, making it important to anyone recovering from wounds or surgery.

Neurotransmitters are critical to brain function and are known to affect mood. Vitamin C plays an important role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter.

Recent research also suggests that vitamin C is involved in the metabolism of cholesterol to bile acids, which may have implications for blood cholesterol levels. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant, searching for potentially dangerous molecules called free radicals. Although not firmly established by clinical trials, this antioxidant activity may also help improve immune function and fight against cancer, age-related macular degeneration of the retina, cataracts, and other diseases. Even the tiniest amounts of vitamin C can protect some of the most important molecules in the body, such as nucleic acids (DNA), lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates from damage by free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Vitamin C intake may be predominantly helpful to smokers, who suffer from cell damage and oxidative stress, which can deplete the body's store of vitamin C.

Beside all of the benefits listed above, vitamin c is also know to provide additional help in the following areas:
- Anemia deficiency
- Capillary fragility
- May slow down aging.
- Athletic performance (to reduce pain and speed up muscle strength recovery after intense   exercise)
- Reduce symptoms of the common cold and other infections
- May reduce cholesterol
- Relief of herpes infections of eyes and genitals
- May reduce symptoms of arthritis, skin ulcers, allergic reactions
- May prevent some forms of cancer
- Provide potential protection against heart disease
- May help preventing allergies
- Infertility - for sperm agglutination
- May reduce toxic effect of alcohol and drugs
- Possible blood-clot prevention