Vitamin C

WOW! So many functions in the body require vitamin C to function well. How about this for a quick list?

.Powerful ANTIOXIDANT ~ with every deep breath we take, we ingest approximately one million free radicals...scary! (Free radicals are by-products of every bodily 'function'). However, give the body some building tools like vitamin C and it gets straight to work to heal itself...now that's amazing!
Vitamin C is readily absorbed by the intestines and then goes to all the watery components of tissues in the body. Considering that the human body is composed of approximately 60% water, that means vitamin C goes most everywhere in our bodies. So the blood, fluid inside the cells and surrounding (interstitual) fluids, all require vitamin C to stay clean. Vitamin C protects cells from free-radical damage, even to preventing the proliferation of cancerous cells. As we have over 100 trillion cells in the human body, it behoves us to protect them well.
In fact, vitamin C is such a powerful antioxidant tool for the body that it is essential in treating many CANCERS as it is actually toxic to most cancer cells. It is also toxic to viruses, bacteria and other such harmful cells. Not only is it toxic to these harmful cells but vitamin C stimulates our bodies own IMMUNE SYSTEM into action.
Vitamin C and a healthy HEART ~ vitamin C reduces the stiffness of arteries and the tendency of platelets to clump together. When taken with vitamin E, it helps to prevent the build up of plaque in coronary arteries. The body needs vitamin C to produce nitric oxide which is required for the dilation of blood vessels. When blood vessels are dilated it prevents spasms in the arteries and thus heart attacks. Any dysfunction of cells is reversed in the cells lining the blood vessels when adequate vitamin C is available to the body. For those concerned about STROKES, making sure that you have enough vitamin C can reduce the possibility by approximately 40%. There are many studies showing that taking vitamin C after a stroke helps to heal the areas affected.
COLLAGEN ~ Collagen constitutes 30% of our body and is found in approximately 90% of the body. That makes it a reasonably important component! In order to produce this collagen the body requires vitamin C. All muscles (the human body has over 600), connective tissues and blood vessels are made with collagen. In order to repair and maintain cartilage, bones (206 in the body) and teeth, vitamin C is needed. Thus, ARTHRITIS, GUM DISEASE, and the like, need vitamin C in order to heal. Maybe, they are caused, in part, by the lack of enough vitamin C in our diets.
For the HEALING OF WOUNDS in our body, it is essential that we have adequate vitamin C. Recurring infections suggest a lack of this vital vitamin. Furunculosis (recurring BOILS) can be due to a 'malfunction' of the white blood cells, which is once again corrected when giving the body vitamin C to work with.
More and more people are suffering with DIABETES. One of the nasty side-effects is the damage diabetes does to the eyes, nerves and kidneys. However, with vitamin C all of these can be helped. In fact, vitamin C can help greatly in the prevention of CATARACTS.


WOW! That's one very impacting vitamin! That means the skeletal system, muscular system, immune system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, nervous system, reproductive system, digestive, urinary and excretory systems are all impacted by vitamin C. When you consider all of this, and the fact that the RDU is only 60mg, which is just enough to keep scurvy away, you can see how we are probably severely depriving ourselves of this valuable building block.
I hear you say that you are eating fruit and vegetables, which is wonderful, truly, but a piece of fruit has it's highest vitamin C content just as it is about to fall off the tree. The fruit we get from supermarkets is picked green and then ripened with gas making it very deficient in vitamin C and other 'goodies'. Our soils are so depleted due to overuse, pesticides, chemicals, etc., that our fruit and veg are again deficient. Add to this mix all our stresses and pollutants and it is no wonder we are becoming so diseased.
 Fruit and vegetable are good sources for natural vitamin C. The body will happily use supplements as well and does not seem to be too picky. In saying that, vitamin C obtained from rose hips seems to have a better impact.
Our bodies are designed to heal themselves. They are miraculous! Let's give them what they need to function well.
So, how much vitamin C should we be taking? Every person, being an individual, will have a differing amount required. But if you have any of the above symptoms then your body is already lacking and needs help. Between 3000-4000mg of vitamin C per day would be great to start with. Vitamin C is one of those great vitamins that we cannot overdose on, as the body daily eliminates what it does not need. Some people may even need more while they are healing. Remember too, that it takes time for the body to heal all 100 trillion of those cells, but heal it, it will, given time and the right ingredients.