Vitamin C is an essential ingredient to our overall health and nutrition. Since our bodies are not able to produce or store Vitamin C, we must include it as part of our daily diets. Intriguingly our inability to manufacture this vitamin results from a past genetic mutation that developed and spread among the human population.
Vitamin C plays a vital rule in producing collagen, the key protein in the body's connective tissue including our cartilage, ligaments, and bones. As many skin cream ads say, collagen also controls our skin's elasticity and strength. Without enough collagen, our tissues become so feeble and damaged, that we develop a condition known as Scurvy. Although this condition can be fatal, you're unlikely to develop it with a modern diet.
This vital mineral also helps produce dopamine, noradrenalin and adrenaline, essential elements in the body's nervous system. Our brains need dopamine to control our movements and too little of it brings on symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. It's also the chemical that is triggered when you experience such pleasures as eating a delicious meal or receiving a job promotion and lack of it may cause you to develop chronic depression as well as other psychological disorders.
Noradrenalin, also called norepinephrine helps your brain to concentrate for long periods of time â€" the chemical is used to treat those with ADD/ADHD. Noradrenalin also transports dopamine to the brain and has been used to help patients with depression.
Adrenaline, a.k.a. Epinephrine turns on your body's fight or flight response by increasing the heart rate, dilating the pupils, and increasing blood sugar levels. Too much of this chemical may suppress the immune system â€" fortunately the brain is good at regulating the dosage.
Finally, Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant meaning it boosts the immune system by eliminating cell-damaging free radicals in the body. Free radicals can cause a myriad of ailments, and some preliminary studies have even linked them to certain cancers.
Few doctors and scientists seem to agree on exactly how much Vitamin C you need each day. The Federal Drug Administration recommends that you ingest 60mg each day, but those of you who are pregnant, under stress, or ill may need more.
An online group called the Vitamin C foundation suggests that some people with compromised immunity take up to 3000mg daily. However too much Vitamin C can make healthy people sick as they develop painful urination and diarrhea as their bodies flush unused, unneeded Vitamin C out of their system. Remember, too much of a good thing . . .
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