If you want to be, and live as long as you can be on this polluted planet, I would suggest that you get an ample amount of vitamin C. This vitamin fights those little destructive rascals known as free radicals, which are terrorists to normal cells. The free radicals damage normal cells that make up every organ in the body, often causing cancer and destruction of blood vessels resulting in high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. In my practice, I have also observed patients with severe bleeding of the gums that was because of a lack of vitamin C. Historically, the deficiency of vitamin C in the crew of slave vessels led to a condition known as scurvy. When it was found that eating limes corrected this condition, they were added to the diet. Slaves, on the other hand, were not privileged to eat this fruit and therefore suffered from scurvy and experienced the ravages of this disease.
Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body. It must be obtained from foods where it is highly concentrated, such as guava, red peppers, strawberries, navel oranges, broccoli, tomatoes and grapefruit. The average person needs approximately 400 to 800 mg daily. It is interesting that in the animal kingdom, dogs and fruit bats produce vitamin C in their bodies. Folks who smoke have an increased need for this vitamin.
New research has revealed that vitamin C is a major factor in preventing cancer of the stomach, colon, esophagus and lungs. It has been observed that vitamin C will kill cancer cells and spare normal cells. During my practice, I advised many a patient to supplement their diets with vitamin C to prevent upper respiratory tract infections. Believe me, I have used it myself and I can witness that this vitamin makes a difference in the severity of any viral infection that I encountered.
The great Linus Pauling received the Nobel Prize for his work in the use of vitamin C as being a protector of the body. Folks with diabetes also benefit from eating foods that contain high levels of this vitamin. African-American men have been shown to have a lack of this vitamin. That might be related in some way to the aggressiveness of prostate cancer in this group of men.
After reading this article, I hope that you understand how important vitamin C is in your diet so you can be all you can be.