Why do we need Vitamin C? The backstory of this antioxidant that is critical for collagen tells of seafaring, sailors and scurvy. Subscribe to Nourishable at
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Hosting, Research, Writing & Post-Production by Lara Hyde, PhD
Assistant Producer: Aliza Baskir
Music & Video Production by Robbie Hyde
Opening Motion Graphics by Jay Purugganan
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References
Footage | Pixabay: Livia Novakova, Kevinsphotos, OpenClipart-Vectors, Susanne Jutzeler, aghyadnajjar, Thanks for your Like, Pixabay, jplenio, Bellergy RC, Maria Godfrida, stux, Pexels: cottonbro, Rathaphon Nanthapreecha, Naim Benjelloun, Preedado Chookaew, Free Videos, Jack Sparrow, Karolina Grabowska, Freepik: whatwolf, Racool_studio, macrovector, freepik, rawpixel.com, brgfx, pikisuperstar, vectorpocket, Videvo, Wikimedia Commons: Ben Baligad (CC BY 2.0), The National Archives UK (Public Domain), Wellcome Collection gallery (CC BY 4.0) Gustave Doré (Public domain), Sir George Chalmers (Public Domain)
Yale Center for British Art (British Public domain): Clarkson Stanfield, Francis Swaine, Charles Brooking, 1723–1759, British, English Ships Under Sail in a Very Light Breeze, ca. 1752, Oil on canvas, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Vitamin C present in many plants like citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, and broccoli. Two main functions in the body: antioxidant and speeding up chemical reactions. Antioxidants neutralize oxidative stress. Free radicals are super reactive with an unpaired electron. Vitamin C donates an electron to the free radical to neutralize it. Vitamin C helps with enzymes as a cofactor for collagen synthesis. Without vitamin C, the enzymes can’t effectively braid the collagen fibers so it falls apart resulting in fragile connective tissue. Deficiency leads to weakened connective tissue such as rough skin, bleeding gums, lost teeth, fatigue and death. This is scurvy. Scurvy caused more deaths at sea than storms, shipwrecks, combats, and diseases. 50% death rate was expected for sailors on sea voyages. Scottish physician James Lind ran one of the first-ever clinical trials. He took with scurvy and divided them into 6 pairs, each receiving different treatments: fermented cider, sulfuric acid, vinegar, seawater, drugs, or 2 oranges and a lemon per day. Citrus cured scurvy after 6 days. From then on British sailors were known as limeys. Sailors preserved citrus by cooking then storing in copper containers. Vitamin C is highly sensitive to heat and gets deactivated in copper. Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid, a name derived from its anti-scorbutic properties. Vitamin C megadoses touted to treat colds and flus. Idea was pushed by 2-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling, exploded the vitamin C industry. Vitamin C megadoses don’t actually cure common cold.Most people get enough vitamin C from a standard diet. Women need 75mg and men need 90mg per day. Vitamin C is sensitive to heat, light, and air. Water-soluble, vitamin C is destroyed by cooking methods like boiling. Vitamin C is present in so many fruits and vegetables, and if you eat them raw or utilize methods like microwaving you’re getting your daily dose. No need to take a vitamin C supplement. Food First. You’re not getting any super protection with megadoses. More isn’t necessarily better.
