OVERVIEW
Vitamin C is water-soluble, meaning that it cannot be stored in the body. Any excess is excreted through the urine. Therefore, your body needs a daily supply of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body. It helps the body produce collagen, an important protein used to make skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. Vitamin C also plays an important role in healing wounds and for repairing and maintaining bones and teeth, in addition to being an antioxidant that helps block damages caused by free radicals. The build-up of free radicals over time can contribute to the aging process as well as the development of health conditions such as cancer, heart diseases and arthritis. Low levels of vitamin C have been associated with a number of conditions, including high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, stroke, cancer and atherosclerosis.
