Most animals make their own Vitamin C, humans do not. And no one knows why. A curious little fact about one of our most well-known vitamins. So, what do we know? We know Vitamin C is incredibly important to several body functions. Read on to find out why, among other things, we’d be shapeless blobs
Collagen is the main component of connective tissue in our bodies. Connective tissue does just what says, it connects and holds together different parts of our body. This is the stuff of tendons (linking bone to muscle) and ligaments (linking bone to bone).
Vitamin C is necessary for collagen formation. Without Vitamin C we couldn’t hold ourselves together. Rendering us shapeless bags of bones and flesh. At least you could save on a gym membership. No need to keep in shape when you lack it altogether.
Vitamin C is also important for the manufacture of several chemicals the body needs to function properly. Here are three of the main players:
- Cortisone. This hormone from our adrenal glands helps our body manage stress.
- Norepinephrine. A key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
- Carnitine. Helps our cells move sugar into the mitochondria where it can be turned into energy.
Take with iron
One of the most common types of anemia is due to insufficient iron intake. When taken with an iron supplement for treatment, Vitamin C helps the body absorb more iron.
You’ve no doubt been told to drink lots of orange juice when feeling sick. That’s because Vitamin C plays an important role in our immune system. It helps our white cells attack and kill invading bacteria. Adequate amounts of Vitamin C keep our immune system functioning at its peak.
Here’s the thing though, AFTER you get sick, downing copious amounts of OJ will likely not make you feel better quicker. Still, you’ll be less likely to get sick with a fully functioning, Vitamin C boosted immune system.
If you follow this blog regularly, you know I’m a big fan of antioxidants. It’s safe to say I’m a pretty big fan of Vitamin C. It is our most important water-soluble antioxidant. On Friday I’ll discuss it’s antioxidant role and examine how much we need for proper body function and optimal antioxidant benefits.