fitness and health

Slice an apple into half
and it turns brown. A copper penny suddenly becomes green
or an iron nail when left outside
will rust. What do all these events have in common? These are examples of a process called oxidation. If the sliced apple is dipped in a lemon juice
however
the rate at which the apple turns brown is slowed. It is because the Vitamin C in the lemon juice slows the rate of oxidative damage.

Since its discovery 65 years ago
vitamin C has come to be known as a “wonder worker.” Because of its role in collagen formation and other life-sustaining functions
Vitamin C serves as a key immune system nutrient and a potent free-radical fighter. This double-duty nutrient has been shown to prevent many illnesses
from everyday ailments such as the common cold to devastating diseases such as cancer.

The water-soluble vitamin C is known in the scientific world as ascorbic acid
a term that actually means “without scurvy.” We depend on ascorbic acid for many aspects of our biochemical functioning; yet human beings are among only a handful of animal species that cannot produce their own supply of vitamin C. Like these other animals
including primates and guinea pigs
we have no choice but to obtain this nutrient through food or our daily diet.

Vitamin C can enhance the body's resistance from different diseases
including infections and certain types of cancer. It strengthens and protects the immune system by stimulating the activity of antibodies and immune system cells such as phagocytes and neutrophils.

Vitamin C
as an antioxidant
helps reduce the activity of free radicals. Free radicals are by-products of normal metabolism which can damage cells and set the stage for aging
degeneration
and cancer. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that vitamin C is being used for cancer treatment. In large doses
Vitamin C is sometimes administered intravenously as part of cancer treatment.



Vitamin C prevents free radical damage in the lungs and may even help to protect the central nervous system from such damage. Free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron. In this state
they're highly reactive and destructive to everything that gets in their way. Although free radicals have been implicated in many diseases
they are actually a part of the body chemistry.

As an antioxidant
vitamin C's primary role is to neutralize free radicals. Since ascorbic acid is water soluble
it can work both inside and outside the cells to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is an excellent source of electrons; therefore
it “can donate electrons to free radicals such as hydroxyl and superoxide radicals and quench their reactivity.”


The versatile vitamin C also works along with glutathione peroxidase (a major free radical-fighting enzyme) to revitalize vitamin E
a fat-soluble antioxidant. In addition to its work as a direct scavenger of free radicals in fluids
then
vitamin C also contributes to the antioxidant activity in the lipids.

Optimal health
however
requires a balance between free radical generation and antioxidant protection. One of the functions of Vitamin C is to get and quench these free radicals before they create too much damage.

However
there is research to show that vitamin C may act as a pro-oxidant. In other words
vitamin C
under certain conditions anyway
may act in a manner that is opposite to its intended purpose. This has raised concern among thousands of people who supplement their diets with vitamin C...but that's another story.