Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that plays vital roles in keeping you healthy. It is also known as ascorbic acid.

Vitamin C is found in citrus fruit like oranges and lemons as well as other fresh fruits like berries and melons. Vegetables such as tomatoes, broccoli and potatoes are also great sources of vitamin C.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and stop them from causing damage.

Vitamin C commonly thought of mainly in prevention of colds, flu and scarlet fever, is being rediscovered for help in allergies. In various controlled studies, vitamin C has been used with much success in high doses to eradicate specific allergies. With such achievement, vitamin C is now being seen as a big help to the body as it fights allergies.

Vitamin C helps to reduce the level of antihistamines in the body. When you have an allergic reaction, your body's immune system reacts by producing an enormous amount of antihistamines to fight the aberrant allergen. It's the histamines that cause all of the various types of irritation and inflammation that make us uncomfortable or that could kill us.

Vitamin C can slow down the reaction giving you time to get medical attention in the event of a serious reaction.

It's known for helping to fight germs and cancer, but it's not solely responsible for a healthy immune system. Vitamin C is also vital for the production of collagen, the connective tissue that keeps muscles, skin, and other tissues, including bone, healthy and is a very powerful antioxidant that helps ward off cellular damage.

This vitamin along with vitamin E protects the eyes against cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Eye Institute reported recently that taking supplemental vitamin C, E, and beta carotene along with zinc reduced by 25% the affects of age related macular degeneration- a condition that destroys the central vision usually in the elderly.

Vitamin C is also effective against acne, Addison's disease, stress, dry skin, bed sores, jaundice, gangrene, skin itching, prickly heat, rashes, hematoma, wrinkles and shingles.

Author: Hamoon Arbabi
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