7 Things You May Not Have Known About Vitamin C

Everyone has probably heard about vitamin C and knows how it is vital for:

• Immune function

• Protein metabolism

• Biosynthesis of collagen, L-carnitine, and certain neurotransmitters;

• Regenerate other antioxidants within the body, including alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E)

• Preventing or delaying the development of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases in which oxidative stress plays a causal role.

• Improving the absorption of nonheme iron (form of iron present in plant-based foods).

Many of you are probably aware that low levels of vitamin C can cause scurvy and symptoms such as:

• Fatigue

• Lassitude

• Capillary fragility

• Widespread connective tissue weakness

But today I would like to share with you a few interesting facts about vitamin C that you may not know:

1. How did vitamin C get its name? Scurvy was an illness that most sailors faced from lacking fruits and vegetables and no one knew how to treat it. Eventually, around 1747, a doctor treated successfully 12 sick sailors with citrus fruits. It was the only effective treatment and eventually gave sailors the nickname, “limey.” This came from sucking on limes through their voyage to prevent the illness. Later on, Szent Györgyi and Haworth chemically identified "C" as ascorbic acid, and named it so because ascorbic means "anti-scurvy."

2. In the intestines, vitamin C absorption competes with glucose for absorption. Ironically, many vitamin C products and food products with added vitamin C also contain added sugar. So consuming junk food could result in lower absorption rates for vitamin C.

3. The only mammals that can’t make vitamin C in their bodies are primates, guinea pigs, fruit bats and humans. Somehow, during evolution, we lost one of four vital enzymes needed to produce it.

4. Smoking can lead to reduced amounts of vitamin C in the body. Smokers require 30-35 mg more vitamin C daily than non-smokers, so vitamin C deficiency is more likely in people who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoking.

5. Vitamin C is water soluble so it’s almost impossible to overload your system, that is why you can’t take this vitamin once a week and expect for it to have a residual effect.

6. If you’re looking to max out your meal’s vitamin C potential, look to eat those vitamin C-rich fruits and veggies raw. Cooking fresh vegetables can reduce the vitamin C content by 15 to 55 percent.

7. Storing vitamin C-rich foods for too long or exposing them to light can reduce the vitamin C content, so eat them soon after buying them!

7 Things You May Not Have Known About Vitamin C