Happy Monday my friends! I am back from a wonderful spring break and ready to start my normal blogging routine. Florida was absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed every minute of my beach time. Speaking of the sunshine state- what fruit immediately comes to your mind when you think of Florida? Oranges! Fresh, plump, juicy Florida oranges are some of my favorite fruits around! And what vitamin are oranges loaded with? Vitamin C of course!
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, ascorbate) is a water-soluble micronutrient that is necessary for normal growth and development. Vitamin C is abundant in plant leaves and in chloroplasts, and it may have a role in photosynthesis, stress resistance, plant growth, and development. Most mammals synthesize vitamin C from glucose in lover, whereas birds, reptiles, and amphibians usually synthesize the vitamin in kidney. Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in the body. It is used to:
- Form an important protein used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels
- Heal wounds and form scar tissue
- Repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth
Vitamin C also serves as a powerful antioxidant.The body is not able to make vitamin C on its own, and it does not store vitamin C. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in daily diet. Species unable to synthesize vitamin C usually obtain sufficient amounts from plant diets, but they can develop scurvy in captivity when they are fed processed diets that are not adequately supplemented.
How many times has someone told you to drink orange juice to prevent catching a cold? I know I’ve been told that a million times in my life time! For many years, vitamin C has been a popular remedy for the common cold. Research shows that for most people, vitamin C supplements or vitamin C-rich foods do not reduce the risk of getting the common cold. However, people who take vitamin C supplements regularly might have slightly shorter colds or somewhat milder symptoms. Taking a vitamin C supplement after a cold starts does not appear to be helpful. Very interesting, right?
Although all fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C, the highest sources of vitamin C include:
- Cantaloupe
- Citrus fruits and juices, such as orange and grapefruit
- Kiwi fruit
- Mango
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries
- Watermelon
- Vegetables with the highest sources of vitamin C include:
- Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower
- Green and red peppers
- Spinach, cabbage, turnip greens, and other leafy greens
- Sweet and white potatoes
- Tomatoes and tomato juice
- Winter squash
Cooking vitamin C-rich foods or storing them for a long period of time can reduce the vitamin C content. Microwaving and steaming vitamin C-rich foods may reduce cooking losses. The best food sources of vitamin C are uncooked or raw fruits and vegetables.
Make sure to check out my Pinterest to see which recipes I use to obtain my daily vitamin C!
Xoxo,
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