Vitamin C. Importance for the body’s immune system.
Ascorbic acid or Vitamin C is important for the body’s immune system. It promotes resistance to stress, improves our mood, burns fat, speeds up healing times, stimulates the production of connective tissue, protects joint cartilage, strengthens tooth-supporting tissues, and fights off colds and flus.
Vitamin C facilitates cellular respiration processes, promoting the use of energy at cell level. It contributes to fat burning, enhances the absorption of many other vitamins, and promotes the synthesis of the neurotransmitter noradrenalin, performing an overall toning action on the body.
Vitamin C helps fight off infections. Ascorbic acid neutralises toxic substances by promoting their elimination, inhibits the formation of nitrosamines due to the nitrites and nitrates in foods (cold cuts, frankfurters, canned meats). It stimulates the immune system, and according to some studies, even performs a preventive action in certain types of tumours.
Vitamin C facilitates the formation of dentin and contributes to the formation and regeneration of bone tissue, in particular of the cartilage covering our joints. It speeds up the healing times of wounds and burns.
High content of vitamin C is found in fresh fruit and certain vegetables, but it is the least stable of all vitamins since it easily deteriorates following exposure to oxygen in the air, light, and high temperatures.
Deficiencies of vitamin C occur in diets with a low intake of fresh and raw fruit and vegetables, with overcooked foods, regular consumption of canned foods, and over-boiled cow’s milk.
Symptoms of deficiency in Vitamin C are as follows: physical weakness, lack of appetite, low resistance to infectious diseases (especially in childhood), recurring colds, delayed healing processes, joint and muscle pain, digestive disorders, skin and mucosa alterations and bleeding, anaemia.
In cases of a reduced intake, increased need or excessive loss, specific supplementation is required with Vitamin C-based supplements.