Antioxidant Vitamin C

It is well over sixty years since the antioxidant vitamin C, also known as the sunshine vitamin, was discovered.  Since that time antioxidant vitamin C has probably become the most well known of all vitamins.  It is involved in helping to sustain various bodily systems, including the vital immune system, and as a powerful antioxidant, assists in keeping free radicals under control.

You are probably aware that antioxidant vitamin C, is also known as , or just plain vitamin C.  But in this article we will refer to it as antioxidant vitamin C, as we examine its use in combating free radicals, and associated degenerative disease.

Free Radicals

Unbalanced oxygen atoms are also known as free radicals. You will be aware, from your days at high school that an atom has a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, around which electrons circulate. This is all right so long as the electrons are in pairs, but problems arise if an electron is missing, as with unequal free radicals. The free radicals take electrons from normal, or stable body cells and start a sequence known as oxidation.

Antioxidant Vitamin C From Diet

Human beings are numbered amongst the species that are unable to produce their own antioxidant vitamin C.  Therefore, to make sure that we have sufficient to meet our requirements, we need to include adequate amounts of antioxidant vitamin C in our diets.

Fruit and vegetables ripen in the sun, and they are a rich source of the sunshine vitamin.   So if you remember to help yourself to the recommended 5 - 9 helpings of fruit and vegetables per day, you should be getting sufficient antioxidant vitamin C, and be helping yourself in more ways than one.

Specific Health Benefits of Antioxidant Vitamin C

Antioxidant vitamin C can beneficially affect our cellular structure, particularly with regard to offsetting the damaging effect of free radicals, which include serious disorders such as heart disease.

Antioxidant vitamin C can assist with the formation of collagen, and help to maintain teeth, bones, and skin, in a healthy condition.  There have been many reports suggesting that vitamin C can help us to fight off common colds and related infection.  That though is disputed and remains inconclusive.

There is little doubt that we all require a regular amount of vitamin C to remain in good health, and that as an antioxidant it is effective in controlling free radicals.

Define Antioxidants
When you define antioxidants, it is important to keep in mind that they are chemical substances found in nature

Dietary Antioxidant
One of the studies shows that part of the dietary antioxidant qualities of honey

Epinephrine and Antioxidant Formulations
Epinephrine and antioxidant formulations for best results.

Herbal Antioxidants
Herbal antioxidants are the body’s natural defenses against harmful radicals.