Extraordinary Health Magazine Extraordinary Health Vol 27 | Page 50
NATURE’S ANTIOXIDANT
Did you know that humans,
unlike most animals, can’t
make vitamin C within
our bodies because we lack
a particular enzyme?
IT’S
essential for us to obtain sufficient vitamin C
from our diets, and since vitamin C is water soluble,
the body doesn’t store it, plus it’s poorly absorbed and
constantly excreted. This all means that we need to consume
it continuously.
Vitamin C is found in plants, but mostly in fruits and vegetables,
including citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, lemons and
grapefruit. Other rich sources include acerola cherries;
amla berries; camu camu; rosehip; sea buckthorn; Indian
gooseberry; red and green peppers; guava; kiwi fruit; pineapple;
tomatoes; red berries; cantaloupe melon; kale and other leafy
greens; and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower
and Brussels sprouts. Cooking significantly reduces vitamin C,
so raw fruits and vegetables, or their juices, are the best ways
to get vitamin C and its natural cofactors, such as bioflavonoids,
which assist with proper absorption and utilization of vitamin C
in the body.
Vitamin C is in every human cell of the human body, supports
healthy energy production in the cell’s mitochondria
(the powerhouse), and is needed for growth and development.
It is required by eight enzymes needed for the biosynthesis
of collagen, carnitine and neurotransmitters. Collagen is a major
component of connective tissues, and is essential for healthy,
vibrant skin as well as being a major building block for tendons
and ligaments, bones and healthy blood vessels.
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Extraordinary Health™ • Vol 27
Vitamin C was discovered centuries ago when sailors developed
scurvy. Their symptoms included extreme fatigue, swollen
bleeding inflamed gums, tooth loss, joint pain, fragile blood
vessels, poor wound healing, depression and, eventually, death.
Today, our focus should be less about preventing scurvy, which
is very rare, and all about maintaining optimum levels of vitamin
C in our blood so it can continually perform its important
antioxidant functions in the body. Low levels of serum
vitamin C may have serious health implications related to major
degenerative diseases and the aging process.
In short, vitamin C is nature’s antioxidant. As an electron
donor, it protects our cells and building blocks for DNA from
free radical damage during normal metabolic processes
and from toxins via environmental pollution. It can also
regenerate other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, within the
body. Positive antioxidant effects of vitamin C have been
demonstrated in many studies. It stimulates white blood
cell and interferon production, supports antibody response
and secretion of appropriate hormones—all important
to healthy immune function. †
The bottom line is that you need enough
vitamin C daily, so take advantage
of this powerful antioxidant from nature.