Vitamin C plays a powerful role as an anti-oxidant and free radical scavenger, seeming to be everywhere all at once. It is a watersoluble vitamin commonly found naturally in peppers, citrus fruits, tomatoes, melons, broccoli, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach, turnip, and mustard greens. Because it is watersoluble, it is not possible to take too much as it will not build up in the body.
Humans are one of only four mammal species who do not manufacture their own Vitamin C.
(1) humans,
(2) gorillas,
(3) guinea pigs and
(4) fruit bats
In mammals who have retained the ability to produce their own Vitamin C, it is produced in response to stress, usually the stress of the threat of infection.
I found a very interesting article about Vitamin C and cardiovascular disease that talks about evolutionary history and the corelation between being able to manufacture Vitamin C and the lack of CardioVascular Disease.
Of the four mammals who have lost the ability to manufacture their own Vitamin C, man is the only one who has drastically changed his dietary preferences, adding meat to his diet.
What are ways you can add Vitamin C to your diet? Thankfully it is easy in that there is abundant Vitamin C in the foods we eat every day. Here are more:
- Kiwifruit
- Guava
- Apple
- Avocado
- Banana
- Mango
- Cantaloupe
- Orange Papaya
With all that good food providing adequate Vitamin C for the day, there should be no excuse. Get your Vitamin C.
Be happy and healthy,
