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Citrus Juice and Its Health Benefits

Citrus juice has significant benefits to offer that cannot be provided from other fruit juices. It is their high concentrations of Vitamin C which makes them highly desirable and beneficial to our health. Surprisingly, human beings are one of the few species that does not make its own supply of this vital vitamin.

It has often been suggested that we suffer many of our illnesses such as viruses and cancer due to our lack of Vitamin C. It is responsible for fighting the free radicals that causes damage to the cells in our body. Thousands of years ago, the picture was slightly different as we ate much more fruit than we do today. We have hands that are designed to pick and grasp fruit and so this was an easy food source for us to obtain. Nowadays, with the increasing popularity of juicing machines like the Jack Lalanne juicer it is now much easier to get your daily quota of fruit.

It is believed our bodies compensated by producing less of this important vitamin until today where we produce none. This causes us a problem as the modern diet contains very little fruit and, as such, our Vitamin C intake is inadequate.

Juicing has become a fast, enjoyable and refreshing way to boost our health. It is a natural way of increasing our intake of essential nutrients. There is no need to spend a lot of money regularly on expensive vitamins and supplements.

One of the greatest scientists of the twentieth century and Nobel laureate, Linus Pauling, was one of Vitamin C’s greatest supporters. He believed that many of the illnesses that we experience today were due to a lack of this important chemical. The amounts he used to advise though were very big indeed. It is generally thought that these levels were excessive and that we do not need to ingest quite such huge amounts.

Large amounts of Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, can be found in oranges and lemons. Oranges contain about 50mg of ascorbic acid per 100g of fruit and about 70mg per fruit slice. Compare this to the recommended daily allowance of 70mg. This, however is the amount recommended to prevent scurvy. It is scurvy that classically causes bleeding gums.

Buying a citrus juicer or juicer such as the Jack Lalanne Juicer Express is a good way to start juicing and investing in your health. As you can see, essential nutrients can be obtained in this manner in a healthy, natural way.

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Vitamin C Skin Care:Soft, Kissable, Skin.Thanks To Oranges?

In many ways vitamin c and skin care are match made in heaven.  Vitamin c has the main function of aiding in collagen production.  Collagen is what gives our skin cells elasticity and youthfulness.With it’s help we can renew our skin when we are wounded and also cure our bones.  Caring for our skin internally involves vitamin c, but now medicine and beauty care are trying to include it topically.  There are some hurdles to follow in this marriage of vitamin c in skin care creams and lotions. 

Vitamin c is highly unstable when utilized away from its natural formats.  It oxidizes easily and can become dangerous or ineffective for its purpose.  There is no doubt as to vitamin c’ skin care effectiveness. 

To remedy the main components problem with instability, ascorbic acid is being picked apart to find more stable usable components of the nutrient.  There are studies which show that vitamin c needs to be concentrated and applied under the appropriate conditions to be absorbed properly into our skin so as to offer us the best skin care benefits.

Products Currently Offering The Best Vitamin C Skin Care

Any products that offer vitamin cin a form that is absorbed by the skin and is concentrated is one that is going to give the best skin care and deliver the vitamin c the best.  Many products offer different derivatives of vitamin c but one of the most popular is a vitamin c skin care derivative known as Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate or MAP.  This derivative is less oxidizing and more stable than L-ascorbic acid, which is natural source vitamin c.  The caution with any vitamin c skin care product is that they deteriorate in air and light, so they must be kept sealed and in cool dark areas until used up, and many do not have long shelf lives.

Vitamin c skin care products are so popular simply because amongst all the skin care products vitamin c has the most scientific proof of its actual ability to help remove fine lines, wrinkles and other skin imperfections.  It is however very hard to maintain in a product and makes it very expensive to have as a treatment.  Some spas claim that mixing vitamin c powder directly into facial creams immediately before treatment works as well, however ascorbic acid can be irritating to the skin.  Caution when looking into products for your skin make sure you talk to a professional about their process if you go to a spa.Read the ingredients of the sourcing product and the science which is claimed in their product before having it.  An average cost for a small 50ml vial of real vitamin c skin care product known as legitimate concentrate and is used in spas and other skin care facilities is about $60 to $100, so if you buy a large bottle doting vitamin c added and it has a sale sticker of $10, more than likely you are not getting the same benefits.

Tagged As: beauty care, vitamin c, Vitamin C Skin Care, Vitamin c skin care products

Vitamin C: The Immunity Booster

Remember your mom insisting that you eat citrus fruits regularly when you were a kid? Nothing could be more beneficial! Citrus fruits are a warehouse of Vitamin C, which we need to ensure proper functioning of various organs and systems in our body. So thank your mom, and make sure your kids too get the right amount of Vitamin C from their diet.

Oranges, lemons, tangerines, limes, grapefruit, tropical guava, and kiwi fruit are excellent sources of Vitamin C. Papaya, strawberries, black currants, red peppers, tomatoes; potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower are some other sources. If you include these in your family’s diet, there will be no need for Vitamin C supplements.

Vitamin C performs various immunity functions; it helps in wound healing and prevents infections from spreading. Vitamin C is essential to prevent scurvy and for sperm production. It provides energy and aids in the production of certain hormones that help to fight-off stress. It also protects against heart ailments. It addition, it is essential for the formation and health of cartilage, skin, and blood vessels and helps our body to easily excrete toxins.

Research indicates that low levels of Vitamin C in the body show a strong correlation with cancers of the esophagus, mouth, stomach, and pancreas. Another research shows that consuming small amounts of citrus fruits reduces the incidence of skin cancer. Some studies suggest that Vitamin C can help control pain and inflammation. However, Vitamin C cannot help you cure colds, contrary to popular belief.

To ensure that you get adequate amounts of Vitamin C from your diet keep cooking time and temperature at a minimum. Also, don’t throw away the water you used in the cooking process. You can store cut fruits and vegetables in the fridge for future use without them losing too much of Vitamin C. However, don’t cook in copper vessels. An interesting fact is that Vitamin C levels in fruits vary with ripeness. For example, in some fruits, unripe versions have more Vitamin C than very ripe ones, and in other fruits the case is just opposite.  In addition, different varieties of the same fruit tend to have different levels of Vitamin C. This is clearly demonstrated in the case of the tropical guava.  

The recommended daily intake varies between 30 and 60 mg across different studies. Research indicates that women who are pregnant or lactating may have a higher requirement. However, just because Vitamin C has loads of health benefits you don’t need to consume vast amounts of fruits and vegetables rich in this vitamin. Remember to add five fruits and vegetables in your daily diet; choose whichever you like and eat moderately. Fruits like grapefruit are known to react with some prescription drugs, so consult your doctor before you include this fruit in your diet. Consumption of too much Vitamin C either through dietary sources or by way of supplements may lead to severe indigestion, headache, and excessive urination. So the health tip is: “don’t overdo!”

Tagged As: health, natural, vitamin c, vitamins