| There are at least 13 vitamins your body requires for | | | | became less common. This consumption of limes |
| optimal health and proper functioning. One of these | | | | earned the British sailors the nickname of "Limeys". |
| vitamins is vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. The best way | | | | Bet you didn't know that, eh! |
| to get the right amount of vitamin C is to have a | | | | Vitamin C supplements |
| healthy and balanced diet. The foods you should be | | | | If you need to take vitamin C supplements, make |
| focussing on are foods like citrus fruits, strawberries, | | | | sure that you follow your doctor's advice. Taking too |
| green vegetables, fish, green peppers, chillies, | | | | much vitamin C can result in an overdose similar to a |
| broccoli, milk and tomatoes. If you can't eat any of | | | | drug overdose. This is uncommon because vitamin C |
| these fresh foods, look for either vitamin C or | | | | is water soluble (as opposed to fat-soluble), which |
| ascorbic acid on the labels of your foods. | | | | means any excess vitamin C will be eliminated via the |
| As mentioned before, vitamin C is one of a group of | | | | toilet. It is highly unlikely that someone can overdose |
| 13 vitamins the body requires. Some of these | | | | on vitamin C if it only comes from natural foods. |
| vitamins are termed 'fat-soluble', which means our | | | | However, if it does happen, you can develop kidney |
| body can store them to be used at another time. | | | | stones and can prevent the absorption of vitamin |
| Unfortunately, vitamin C is not in this group of | | | | B12 which can lead to anaemia. Another side affect |
| fat-soluble vitamins. This means the body cannot | | | | of too much vitamin C is diarrhea. So, listen to what |
| store it and it needs to be consumed daily. The | | | | your doctor tells you! |
| amount of vitamin C your body requires depends on | | | | If you have to take vitamin C supplements, make |
| your age, weight, lifestyle, gender and whether or | | | | sure you look at the label of the bottle. The reason |
| not you are pregnant. | | | | for this is because different manufactures have |
| What Vitamin C does | | | | different potencies of their vitamin C product. This |
| In a nutshell, vitamin C is what is called an | | | | may sound strange, but it's because vitamin |
| anti-oxidant. These are chemicals that help our body | | | | supplement are classified as food and not drugs, |
| fight the damage caused to our body organs and | | | | which means they tend not to be as strictly |
| cells on a daily basis. The good news is that the right | | | | regulated in terms of their potency. |
| amount will protect the body and may even help | | | | In most cases, getting enough vitamin C isn't a |
| reduce the signs of aging. A deficiency in vitamin C | | | | problem for the majority of people. A balanced |
| leads to a condition called scurvy. Although it is rare in | | | | healthy diet will give you plenty of vitamin C. |
| the Western world, it can still cause anaemia, skin | | | | However, if you think you require additional vitamin |
| haemorrhages, general weakness and gum disease. | | | | C, talk to your doctor, nutritionist or a healthcare |
| Early British sailors were badly affected by scurvy | | | | professional to determine how you should go about |
| during early oceanic voyages. When they discovered | | | | getting the right amount. Your body will always be |
| the link with citrus fruits such as limes, the disease | | | | grateful for looking after it! |