Vitamin C ... has several important functions

Just before you start reading about Vitamin C

Thank you 

for all the lovely comments and good wishes on my Mothers Day post

I had a very enjoyable weekend with the family

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, has several important functions.

These include:

helping to protect cells and keeping them healthy
maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage
helping with wound healing

Lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy.

Good sources of vitamin C

Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.

Berries
Blackcurrants
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cantaloupe
Cauliflower
Grapefruit
Kiwi fruit
Leafy greens (like Kale and Spinach)
Mango
Oranges
Orange Juice
Papaya
Peppers
Pineapple
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Squash
Strawberries
Watermelon

Some examples of foods containing high levels of vitamin C.

image from here

How much vitamin C do I need?

Adults aged 19 to 64 need 40mg of vitamin C a day.

You should be able to get all the vitamin C you need from your daily diet.

Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day.

What happens if I take too much vitamin C?

Taking large amounts (more than 1,000mg per day) of vitamin C can cause:

stomach pain
diarrhoea
flatulence

These symptoms should disappear once you stop taking vitamin C supplements.

What does the Department of Health and Social Care advise?

You should be able to get all the vitamin C you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.

If you take vitamin C supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful.

Taking less than 1,000mg of vitamin C supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm.

Above details taken from here

Broccoli is a good source of Vitamin C

Don't throw those broccoli stalks away - more to read here

PLEASE BE AWARE
Articles within this blog (and any comments) are provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Always take account of your personal circumstances, needs, illnesses and medication you may be taking. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your general health, including medication, you should contact your Doctor / health care provider.

All the best Jan