Oranges and Lemons (Vitamin C)

Member Name: Diaz

Product:	Vitamin C
Date:	11/10/01 (1708 review reads)
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Perhaps the most famous vitamin of all is good old Vitamin C. I’m skipping Vitamin B for a while, its too complex….. (that’s about the best I can manage for vitamin based humour so from now on I’ll stick to some really bad Doctor Doctor jokes, if you don’t like them don’t say I didn’t warn you.)



Doctor, Doctor I keep painting myself gold

Don't worry it's just a gilt complex !



Here we go again with a brief history of vitamins, a Dutch physician, Christiaan Eijkmann, won the 1929 Nobel prize in physiology and medicine for their discovery. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, was first isolated (from adrenal cortex, oranges, cabbage, and lemon juice) by the American biochemists Albert Szent-Gyorgyi and Charles King, between 1928 and 1933.



There are two classes of vitamin, those that are fat soluble and water soluble, that is they dissolve in either water or fat. The ones that dissolve in fat can be stored in the body until they are required those that are dissolved in water leave through the regular route, use your imagination. The upshot of this is they need to be replaced on a regular basis in your diet, be it through vitamin supplements or your food.



Vitamin C is readily oxidized (rendered chemically useless to your body) by cooking and prolonged storage and so it’s important to get your sources as fresh raw fruits, high sources of Vitamin C are red peppers, citrus fruits and tomatoes.



Doctor, Doctor I think I'm an electric eel

That's shocking !



Vitamin C is used in the body for

* formation and retention of calcium and phosphorus in the body (which leads on to its use in....)

* teeth (handy if you have them)

* bones

* builds resistance to infection, particularly the common cold

* It is required to make collagen. Collagen isn&
#8217;t for giving you lips the beestung look but it acts as a “cellular cement”, keeping your cells and stopping your insides from becoming soup.

* It gives strength to blood vessels, helps heal wounds, builds scar tissue and fractures all as a result of assisting with collagen production.

* aids in the absorption of iron.

* It is also an antioxidant, and so prevents the conversion of nitrates into cancer-causing substances, these can be found in tobacco smoke, smog, bacon, lunch meats and some vegetables. This can reduce the incidence of some cancers by 75% (according to Dr. Lines Pauling, the foremost authority on Vitamin C)



A deficiency of Vitamin C can lead to

* Scurvy (British sailors used to carry limes in their ships as a source of Vitamin C, which is why Americans call us “Limeys”, I’m a mine of useless information), where the skin becomes rough and prone to bleeding, old scars can reopen, gums can bleed, generally not very nice.

* Swollen or painful joints

* Slow-healing wounds & fractures

* You can become prone to bruising, nosebleeds and general bleeding

* Tooth decay occurs as dentine is not maintained.

* Loss of appetite

* Muscular weakness as the tensile strength of muscles decreases.

* Anemia

* Depression

* Deficiency in children leads to poor bone development, particularly the long bones (legs and arms) it can cause rickets, basically the legs bow since the bones cannot fully support the bodies weight.



Generally these symptoms are a function of poor collagen production.



An excess of Vitamin C (megadoses, a technical term, I kid you not) has been used to prevent common colds, stress, mental illness, cancer, and heart disease. Though is not recommended this continues for prolonged periods as Vitamin C has a toxic effect too and can cause Nausea,
diarrhea, red blood cell damage, nosebleeds, abdominal cramps. A 1998 study conducted in the UK claims a 500 mg of vitamin C daily acted as a pro-oxidant as well an antioxidant and could damage DNA.

Recommended Intakes

NEW DRIs:

75 mg for adult women

90 mg for adult men

Old RDAs:

60 mg for adults

75-95 mg for pregnant and lactating women

35-40 mg/day in children, ages 1-3

The requirement in smokers may be increased to 100 mg/day.



Doctor, Doctor I keep thinking I'm a woodworm

How boring for you !



So where can I get Vitamin C I here at least one interested soul (hopefully) clamoring. Well other than pills, which to be honest I don’t recommend, it’s much better to get your vitamins as part of a balanced diet. Foods which are rich in Vitamin C include

Citrus fruits

fresh strawberries

tomatoes

potatoes

leafy green vegetables, e.g. spinach and kale

green and red peppers

broccoli

brussel sprouts

cabbage

turnips

cantaloupe

guava

mangos

papayas

melons

So to help you along with a recipe that includes plenty of vitamin C, which happens to be one of my wife’s favourites, I’m a bit indifferent to couscous but this recipe isn’t bad. (I’m not overselling this am I??)

“Couscous Salad
Sharon Howard, R.D. from drkoop.com



This nutrient-packed salad makes a great appetizer, side dish or vegetarian entree! It's packed with fiber and vitamin C. Boost the fiber even more by using whole wheat couscous (available at health food stores).

2 cups cooked couscous

6 scallions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 cup cucumber, seeded and chopped

1
6-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped or 1 cup parsley, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 cloves minced garlic

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon salt

black pepper to taste

Mix cooked couscous and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl.

Mix oil, lemon juice, garlic, mustard and spices. Pour over salad and toss well. “



Of course I have to round off on a low note......

Doctor, Doctor I keep thinking I'm a nit

Will you get out of my hair !

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