Vitamin C: The Myth, the Legend
Vitamin C is one of the most commonly-referred to supplement in magazines, on websites and around the doctor's office. While most people know how to get it, few know exactly what it does: they only know they should have it, and think twice about skipping the orange juice at breakfast. But if the benefits and powers of vitamin C are not understood, then the dangers of deficiency are not understood either. More often than not, the consequences of vitamin shortages are more important to know than the advantages.
Too Little
Vitamin C is found in animals as well as plants, but it is predominately associated with fruits of the citrus variety. In fact, the association between the vitamin and ascorbic acid was not discovered until, in a sense, it was too late. Scurvy tormented humanity for centuries, and was first written about by Aristotle in 450 B.C. A syndrome characterized by gum inflammation, tooth decay, hemorrhaging and lethargy, it destroyed entire navies during the 1700s. When lemon juice was found to cure the disease, the mystery of vitamin C was uncovered.
In a normal, primitive diet, vitamin C deficiencies would not exist. Fresh fruits and fresh vegetables contain enough of the vitamin to adequately supply any human, as long as they eat them of course. But in a modern society defined by fast-food and the microwave, vitamin deficiencies before unheard of are becoming commonplace. While scurvy is no longer a probable fear, the other effects of low blood levels of vitamin C are still experienced. Depression, infections, common colds, ulcers, allergies, arthritis, high blood pressure and gallstones are all medical problems that can be avoided with a diet that includes at least a minimal amount of the vitamin. Sadly, these symptoms do not even require gallons of orange juice to prevent; a little goes a long way with ascorbic acid.
Too Much
Unlike many other vitamins, vitamin C poses no real risk of overdose. The vitamin is nontoxic and is not stored in the body; the excess amounts are released in urine. Some side effects can occur when people ingest too much of the vitamin in processed forms, including diarrhea, dysuria, hemolysis and skin irritation. There may be a relationship between vitamin C overdoses and kidney stones, but the relationship is uncertain and rare.
Just Right
There are a few controversies surrounding the use of vitamin C in clinical settings. While it is widely known that the vitamin can help prevent the common cold, it is debatable how much power it truly has over disease. There are ethical concerns surrounding its use as a cancer treatment, mostly focused on the seriousness of the disease and the weakness of the argument. Either way, vitamin C is an antioxidant, and the support it gives to the immune system can help many people battle sore throats and sniffles.
Aside from the immune system, vitamin C can help many other parts of the body. It increases metabolism and helps skin and other aging tissues to heal faster. It is a natural laxative, and can also ease the withdrawal symptoms associated with drug addictions. It may even reduce the negative effects of pollution, protecting the body and fragile organs from carbon monoxide, lead and even mercury.
