Vitamin C

Vitamin C belongs to the group of nutrients known as antioxidants, which aim to prevent the damaging effects associated with useless by-products of energy. When large amounts of these by-products (also known as free radicals) accumulate in the body, unwanted conditions begin to develop, including cancer, arthritis, and heart disease. Free radicals are also known to speed up the aging process. Vitamin C not only battles free radicals, but also combats toxic chemicals, such as cigarette smoke.

Humans need vitamin C in order to achieve normal growth patterns and repair damaged tissues in the body. The vitamin is required for the production of collagen, which is a protein responsible for the formation of skin, scar tissue, ligaments, and blood vessels. In order to enjoy strong bones and teeth, the vitamin is also needed for desired maintenance and repair.

Nutritional Information

When looking to increase the amount of vitamin C in your diet, there are plenty of fruits and vegetables to choose from. Green peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, leafy greens, potatoes, and cantaloupe all contain some of the highest amounts of vitamin C. Additional food sources to consider includes watermelon, blueberries, red peppers, cabbage, and pineapples.

A variety of factors ranging from growing conditions to food preparation contribute to the amount of vitamin C in food. These amounts vary from plant to plant. The soil, climate, plant species, harvest details, and method of preparation all influence vitamin C levels in food.