Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is absolutely crucial to the body's health. Vitamin C offers countless benefits to the body and plays a key role in a number of body functions. This vitamin, however, is not readily stored in the body and therefore needs to be provided to the body through its various sources and forms. It is important to understand the functions and benefits of Vitamin C, as well as the different forms of this important vitamin.
Functions and Benefits of Vitamin C in the Body
Vitamin C is important to a long list of body functions, including its most well known function in the immune system, as it prevents infections and strengthens the body's protective capabilities against illnesses. It also helps maintain healthy bones, red blood cells, teeth and gums, and blood vessels. Vitamin C helps to build and maintain collagen in the skin, an important protein fiber responsible for skin health and for the tissue between the ligaments, cartilage, bones and tendons. Also important to the skin is its ability to act as an antioxidant and fight off damaging free radicals in the environment, which reduce the risk of diseases. The vitamin has healing benefits, as well, for skin wounds, infections and fractures. Additionally, vitamin C absorbs iron from plant foods.
Natural Versus Synthetic Forms of Vitamin C
The synthetic form of Vitamin C is chemically identical to its natural form. In supplement form, it is easier (and less costly) to find the synthetic form of Vitamin C, which has the benefit of being combined with other nutrients, such as bioflavonoids, which enhance the effectiveness of Vitamin C. Since natural C supplements are harder to find and more expensive, it is easiest to replenish the body with natural Vitamin C by eating fruits and vegetables abundant with the vitamin, such as oranges, kiwi, broccoli and tomatoes, among many other fruit and vegetable sources. Both the natural and synthetic forms of Vitamin C provide equal benefits and functions, since they are chemically the same.
Ascorbic Acid
The standard form of Vitamin C is ascorbic acid. Since vitamin is increasingly used in skin care products for its anti-oxidant benefits, its ascorbic acid form is slightly altered for preservation and distribution purposes, and it is often called L-ascorbic acid. The salt form of ascrobic acid (as opposed to its usual acid form) is called calcium ascorbate, also used in skin care products as well as supplements. Like other forms, calcium ascorbate is synthetic.
Rose Hips
Rose hips are a highly valued and rather expensive natural form of Vitamin C. Many products that advertise inclusion of rose hips in the ingredient actually add small amounts to synthetic Vitamin C sources. Rose hips are the small red or orange berries left behind after a once blooming rose has died. Rose hips are valued in teas and soups, along with other culinary uses in fine (and healthy) dining. Rose hips are also used to make soap and other body care products. Also, this form of Vitamin C can be found as an ingredient in high-priced skin care products.
Other Vitamin C Forms
Ascorbyl palmitate is the fat soluble form of Vitmain C that is regarded as a C form more easily absorbed and stored by the body than Vitamin C's natural water soluble form. Ascorbyl palmitate is more difficult to find than other forms of Vitamin C.
Acerola Vitamin C is another natural form that comes from a tropical shrub in North America. Like rose hips, acerola is highly valued and is usually blended with a synthetic when used in food, vitamin supplement and skin products.
Deficiency of Vitamin C
Sever deficiency of Vitamin C is rare in the United States, although poor Vitamin C intake is not uncommon. Poor health choices that include drinking, smoking and rare intake of fruits and vegetables leads to Vitamin C deficiency, as does excessive stress. Signs of Vitamin C deficiency include frequent colds, stomach problems, unhealthy looking skin that appears grayish and dull, slow-healing wounds and inflamed gums.
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