Thursday, April 3, 2014

C for Cohesion by C vitamin






You have probably heard this before: “Got a cold? Need to stock up on C vitamin!” Ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, is one of the most talked about nutrient around the cold season is. Now, contrary to popular belief, C vitamin does not prevent nor treat a cold. It may however, shorten the duration of a cold.  In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C also helps the body in making of collagen, a protein found in tissues that make up the skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and bones. This article briefly states the characteristics of C vitamin, its functions in the body and food sources thereof.


Nature of C vitamin
C vitamin is a small chemical compound, a carbohydrate to be more specific, that acts as cofactor, coenzyme, and antioxidant in the body.  Its role is to work as a “helper” for many chemical reactions such as neurological, energy producing, fat metabolism, skin and tissue repair reactions. This synergistic action is much needed for the proper functioning of the human body.  As a water-soluble vitamin, C vitamin is hardly stored in the body, therefore, must be constantly replaced. The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends varying amounts daily of C vitamin intake according to age.




Food sources of C vitamin
It is generally known that citrus fruits such oranges, lemon, lime, and grapefruit contain high amounts of C vitamin. However, foods such as pepper, baked potatoes, broccoli, strawberries, and tomatoes are also excellent sources of the nutrient. Keep in mind that C vitamin dissolves in water, and it is therefore better to steam or bake the vegetables in order to preserve the vitamin’s nutritional properties. If you decide however, to poach, simmer or boil the vegetable during cooking, make a soup with the stock!

Sources:
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-QuickFacts/  

8 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I'm glad you liked it Sarah! Homemade orange juice is my favorite.

      xoxo, Patience

      Delete
  2. Great idea! I could defo make a soup with the vitamin water once I've boiled the veg. I'm unknowingly having lots of vitamin C which is great- I love citrus fruit and snacking on peppers. Great informative post :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very welcome fearlessnfabulous. Love your screen name by the way! Having a homemade soup is one of the greatest ways of taking in a lot of nutrients in one sitting :) Thanks for reading!

      xoxo, Patience

      Delete
  3. Hello there. Good information and useful tips. Thanks for sharing. Thanks also for visiting my blog. Wishing you all the best with the challenge!
    Entrepreneurial Goddess

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very welcome Entrepreneurial Goddess. Thanks for reading.

      xoxo, Patience

      Delete
  4. The second category of fruits and veges is my favorite, so will stick to them for vitamin C.
    That's a helpful tip, 'vitamin C dissolves in water.......................' I'll keep this in mind
    Thanks for sharing ........

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome Shellymona. I'm glad you enjoyed reading.

      xoxo, Patience

      Delete