Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an important vitamin for some species including humans. Vitamin C includes several different types of vitamins that have vitamin C activities in animals. Some vitamin C supplements contain ascorbic acid (salt form) such as potassium acerbate and/or calcium acerbate. They help break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Both acerbate and ascorbic acid are naturally present in the body, however, they don't stay there for long because they convert into each other depending on the pH level.

Deficiency

Vitamin C deficiencies are uncommon in developed countries today, but if you take less than 10 milligrams (10,000 IU) of vitamin C per day for several consecutive weeks you could become deficient. Scurvy is an extremely rare disease among adult humans. However, if you're not consuming enough fruits and vegetables, then you may be at risk of developing scurvy.

Food Sources

Vitamin C comes from fruits and vegetables.

Here are some examples:

• Citrus (oranges, kiwi, lemon, grapefruit)
• Bell peppers
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Calciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower)
• White potatoes

Safety and side effects

Vitamin C is generally considered to be safe for most people when used appropriately. However, too much vitamin C may cause some unwanted effects, including:

• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Stomach cramps or bloating
• Fatigue and sleepiness, or sometimes insomnia

The Health Benefits

There are no single nutrients that can cure serious diseases. However, they often help each other and other healthy habits like eating right and sleeping well and avoiding excessive amounts of caffeine are important.

But according to recent studies vitamin C can possibly help with the below symptoms:

Cold symptoms: There is no solid evidence showing that vitamin C helps treat colds. However, there is some evidence suggesting that it might be helpful if taken before symptoms appear.

Stroke: A recent review in the American Journal of Clin­ical Nutrition found that people who had high levels of vitamins C and vitamin E in their blood were less likely to suffer from strokes. There are no clear reasons why this happens. People who eat lots of fruit and veggies seem to have higher levels of vitamin C in their bloodstreams than people who don't.

Dermatology

Vitamin C is an important nutrient that can be applied topically in dermatological treatments to treat and prevent skin aging. It can also be applied to treat hyperpigmented lesions. However, because it is unstable and difficult for topical applications to reach the optimal concentration in the dermis, researchers are looking at new ways to deliver vitamin C into the dermis using different techniques.

Vitamin C - Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find the most frequently asked questions about vitamin C:

How much vitamin C per day?

• Adults between the ages of 19 and 64 require at least 40 milligrams of vitamin C per day.
• You should be able to eat enough fruits and vegetables to obtain all the vitamin C you require.
• Vitamin C not stored in your body, so you need to get it from your diet every day.

What happens if I take too much vitamin C?

Taking too much (over 1,000 mg per day) of vitamins C can cause:

• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• flatulence

Once you've stopped taking vitamin C supplements, these side effects should go away.

What does vitamin C do for your skin?

Vitamin C may also be helpful for protecting the body against harmful UV radiation when taken together with a broad-spectra SPF. Studies show that taking vitamin C supplements combined with other topical agents, such as ferulic acid and vitamin A, can minimize red spots and prevent them from becoming permanent scars.