What Are The Health Benefits Of Ascorbic Acid?

15 July, 2009 No Comment

Ascorbic acid is also known as Vitamin C, dehydroascorbic acid or antiscorbutic vitamin. It has been nicknamed as ‘miracle vitamin’ owing to the fact that it has the potential to cure several diseases ranging from common cold to cancer.

Vitamin C however, cannot be manufactured by the body on its own and needs to be taken orally. Some amount of this vitamin is present in every fruit and vegetable but those with highest content include strawberries, papaya, oranges, lime, mangoes, raspberries, pineapples, watermelon, red peppers, cranberries, potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, green leafy vegetables, Brussels’s sprouts and winter squash.

Health benefits of Ascorbic Acid:
Ascorbic acid has potent antioxidant properties and protects the body from the harmful effects of free radicals. Studies tell us that even small quantities of this vitamin can safeguard proteins, nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, carbohydrates and fats from the damaging free radicals scavenging in the environment.

It is known that the piling up of free radicals is the root cause of various illnesses such as heart disease, arthritis, stress, cancer, respiratory diseases and ageing. Thus, regular intake of ascorbic acid helps keep the body in good health, fights disease and delays the process of ageing.

Ascorbic acid is required by the body to aid the process of growth and repair of the tissues and helps restore day to day damage. It helps speed up the process of healing of wounds and is essential for the protection of cartilage, teeth and bones. It is needed by our body for manufacturing collagen that is found in ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and bones.

Ascorbic acid is also vital for the health and normal functioning of the brain. It helps in the production of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in stabilizing the mood. Vitamin C also plays a major role in the production of carnitine, a molecule that is responsible for transporting fat to the mitochondria for the release of energy.

Deficiency of Ascorbic acid:
The deficiency of this vitamin can result in a disease known as scurvy and can also cause gingivitis or inflammation of gums. Other than this, it can also cause dry, brittle nails, rough scaly skin and frizzy split hair. Vitamin C deficiency results in reduced immunity, delays the process of wound healing and causes anemia and joint pain.