Vitamin C

Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:
EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Vitamin C (ascorbic
acid) is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle
and collagen in bones. Vitamin C is also vital to your body's healing process.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the effects
of free radicals — molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is
exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation from the sun, X-rays or other sources.
Free radicals might play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Vitamin C also helps your body absorb and store iron. Because your body doesn't
produce vitamin C, you need to get it from your diet. Vitamin C is found in
citrus fruits, berries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, Brussels sprouts,
broccoli and spinach. Vitamin C is also available as an oral supplement,
typically in the form of capsules and chewable tablets.

mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">Most people get enough vitamin C from a healthy diet. Vitamin C
deficiency is more likely in people who:  mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">Smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoking  mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">Have certain gastrointestinal conditions or certain types of cancer  mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">Have a limited diet that doesn't regularly include fruits and
vegetables  mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">Severe vitamin C deficiency can lead to a disease called scurvy,
which causes anemia, bleeding gums, bruising and poor wound healing.  mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">If you take vitamin C for its antioxidant properties, keep in mind
that the supplement might not offer the same benefits as naturally occurring
antioxidants in food.  mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">The recommended daily amount of vitamin C is 90 milligrams for
adult men and 75 milligrams for adult women

mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">Research on the use of vitamin C for specific conditions shows:

mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">Cancer. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables might
lower your risk of many types of cancer, such as breast, colon and lung
cancers. However, it's not clear whether this protective effect is related to
the vitamin C content in the food. Taking oral vitamin C supplements doesn't
appear to offer the same benefit.  mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">Common cold. Taking oral vitamin C supplements won't prevent
the common cold. Evidence also shows that the benefits of regularly taking
vitamin C supplements to reduce the duration or severity of a cold are minimal.  mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-bidi">Eye diseases. Taking oral vitamin C supplements in combination
with other vitamins and minerals seems to prevent age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) from worsening. Some studies also suggest that people who
have higher levels of vitamin C in their diets have a lower risk of developing
cataracts.