Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin that cannot be stored
in the body. The vitamin functions as an antioxidant
helps neutralize free
radicals that can cause damage to the cells. and helps strengthen the
immune system.
Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, the glue that strengthens
many parts of the body, such as muscles and blood vessels. Vitamin C also
plays important roles in wound healing and as a natural antihistamine.
This vitamin also aids in the formation of liver bile and helps to fight
viruses and to detoxify alcohol and other substances.
Great food sources of Vitamin C are Broccoli, red peppers, currants,
brussels sprouts, parsley, rose hips, acerola berries, citrus fruit, strawberries,
Orange juice, red peppers, green peppers, grapefruit juice, papaya, kale,
broccoli, oranges, cantaloupe, turnip greens, yellow summer squash, tomatoes.
Vitamin C is extremely sensitive to storing, peeling, freezing and cooking
food can deplete much of its Vitamin C content. For maximum C content,
eat vitamin-C foods raw.
Daily amount of at 1,000 mg is often recommended for this vitamins;
however, much greater dosages in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 mg per day
are not uncommon.
Rose Hips
Rose hips are source of Vitamin C. Unfortunately, you would have
to take a Rose Hip pill the size of a baseball to equal 1,000 mg of Vitamin
C. Rose hips like Bioflavanoids
are usually included as an additional ingredient in vitamin C preparations
in order to add the synergistic phytonutrients
that occur naturally with vitamin C.
Rose hips are widely available throughout the U.S. As their name
implies, they come from the rose plant--they're what remains after the
petals fall off. Rose hips have been used as a source of nutrition for
centuries. They are a highly recognized source of vitamin C, and also contain
vitamins E and K, and the B vitamins riboflavin and folate. Two capsules
in a cup of hot water make a pleasant instant tea.
