| Vitamin C is perhaps the best known and most | | | | captain made sure a constant supply of limes, or |
| studied of all the antioxidants. Also known as ascorbic | | | | oranges or fruit and vegetables was given to the |
| acid, it helps combat damage done to our cells by | | | | crew. |
| free radicals. | | | | This, though they didn't know it, was vitamin C at |
| Our bodies don't manufacture their own vitamin C, | | | | work. |
| like most animals. Somewhere along the evolutionary | | | | Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it |
| line we (as well as other primates) have lost the | | | | dissolves in water. This in turn means that when we |
| ability to do so. This means that we have to get our | | | | take it, for example from an orange juice, our bodies |
| vitamin C from foods, and we have to do it often as | | | | will readily absorb it. And what we don't need will also |
| our bodies run out of it. | | | | be easily eliminated. |
| Since the early seventies vitamin C became a | | | | When we get our vitamin C from fresh fruit or |
| household name when Dr. Linnus Pauling, published his | | | | vegetables our bodies are perfectly equipped to |
| " Vitamin C and the Common Cold" book, where he | | | | eliminate any excess. But, we must be careful when |
| suggested that taking vitamin C above the | | | | taking it in pill form as it isn't absorbed properly. |
| Recommended Daily Allowance level would ward off | | | | Vitamin C supplements are available in liquid form or in |
| the common cold because of the immune system | | | | more easily absorbed forms. |
| strengthening that comes from vitamin C. | | | | The Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin C has |
| A real life example that clearly illustrates not only the | | | | recently been upgraded from 60 milligrams a day per |
| benefits of vitamin C, but also where to find natural | | | | adult, to 75 for women and 90 for men, although |
| vitamin C, and what happens when it is absent, | | | | some researches are pointing to better results with |
| follows. | | | | higher amounts - taken in its natural form or as a |
| Back in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, travel | | | | soluble supplement. |
| from continent to continent was in large sailing ships. | | | | Some of the benefits are: |
| The distances involved, as well as wind power made | | | | - It helps the body digest and absorb iron and other |
| overseas travel a lengthy business. To make a long | | | | minerals. |
| story short, many, many sailors were afflicted by | | | | - It helps protect against cancer, heart disease and |
| scurvy, a disease that made their teeth fall out and | | | | stress. |
| their gums bleed. It wasn't a pretty sight as these | | | | - Vitamin C works with your body by helping it |
| were the outward signs of scurvy and many died. | | | | maintain a healthy immune system. |
| There were no refrigerators at that time and the | | | | - Perhaps one of its more important functions is that |
| food they took with them had to last until reaching | | | | it helps in the production of collagen, a tissue that |
| port. Fresh fruit ran out very quickly and scurvy | | | | helps hold cells together. |
| would strike. | | | | - It is needed for the development of healthy bones, |
| Some observant people began to notice that | | | | teeth, gums, cartilage and tendons. |
| occasionally two ships arrived to port, traveling the | | | | Perhaps the most important recommendation |
| same distance, from the same point of origin and in | | | | regarding vitamin C as well as other antioxidants, is |
| the same amount of time. But while one ship was | | | | that their intake form part of a balanced diet based |
| decimated by scurvy, the other had a reasonably | | | | on fresh, if possible organic, fruit and vegetables. |
| healthy crew. The only difference had been that the | | | | |