Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that aids in wound healing and iron absorption and helps maintain bones, blood vessels, and teeth. Vitamin C helps form collagen, a protein that gives structure to bones and other connective tissues such as gums and blood vessel walls. It also plays an important role in the production of hormones and the amino acid carnitine.

Vitamin C has long been heralded for its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are special compounds that protect against oxidation, or cellular damage caused by free radicals. Common examples of oxidation in everyday life include the rusting of metal and the browning of fruit. In the human body, oxygen-derived free radicals are highly reactive molecules that are normally produced as a byproduct of metabolism in cells. However, free radicals can also be generated in the body as a result of exposure to sunlight, X-rays, tobacco smoke, car exhaust, and other environmental pollutants. Excessive free-radical formation can overwhelm the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms and may lead to a number of chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke, diabetes, heart and lung disease, and cataracts.

Vitamin C can be found in fruits such as cantaloupe, kiwis, oranges, mangos, grapefruit, papayas, strawberries, lemons, and watermelon. It is also found in vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, potatoes, and spinach.