Even those of us who have never studied chemistry will be knowledgeable about regular examples of oxidation. Once an old car begins to rust, that is oxidation. When an apple is quartered and the exposed flesh begins to brown, that also is oxidation. In the case of the apple, dipping it in lemon juice will slow the pace at which the browning occurs. This is because lemon juice includes a high amount of Vitamin C, a potent anti-oxidant.
Vitamin C plays a critical part in keeping the immune system by stimulating the action of antibodies, and neutralizing free radicals. Additionally it is an integral agent in Lone Star Centers of the formation of collagen. It plays a role in the prevention of many ailments including the common cold and cancer.
It was found that limes could counter the impact of scurvy. The scientific name for Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, really means without scurvy. Many animals can manufacture their own source of Vitamin C however humans cannot and thus should make sure our diet includes adequate amounts of the vitamin.
Among the key benefits of Vitamin C is its ability to function as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are bye products of metabolism but can damage cells and even lead to cancer, and are considered to cause the aging procedure. Vitamin C is part of the growing arsenal of weapons against cancer, and is even injected intravenously so as to take care of particular cancers.
Free radicals sometimes absorbed from the surroundings in can cause significant harm to the lungs, but Vitamin C can help counteract this, and it is believed that it may even have the ability to shield the central nervous system from free radical damage also.
A key feature of ascorbic acid is it is soluble in water, so it can enter cells thus working inside and outside of cells to minimize damage from free radicals. Chemically, free radicals are particularly reactive because they lack electrons. Vitamin C, which is negatively charged, donates electrons to free radicals that both neutralizes them and reduces their reactivity
Vitamin C is also in a position to operate in fatty regions of the body, regardless of the fact it is water soluble. It does this by working with an enzyme known as glutathione peroxidise, to act on Vitamin E that itself is a fat-soluble antioxidant.
It is important to understand the body does have to create free radicals – in the presence of Vitamin C it’s possible to do so safe in the knowledge that they will be neutralized before a lot of havoc could be wreaked.
Many People take Vitamin C Supplements, which paradoxically might have the opposite effect to the one intended. Some research shows that under certain circumstances Vitamin C may act as a pro-oxidant, it promotes oxidation rather than inhibits it.
