| You know you need it. You have heard the old | | | | tumor cells, and aids the body's production of |
| stories of sailors sickening and even dying from | | | | interferon, a natural antiviral compound; |
| scurvy. You learned about its value in high school | | | | * Stimulates the production of antibodies and |
| health class...something about connective tissues. | | | | modulates their protective action and that of |
| History class told you the British Navy stopped | | | | phagocytes; |
| Napoleon's fleet and prevented an invasion of | | | | * Breaks down histamines and prostaglandins that |
| England. But did your teacher tell you a great portion | | | | contribute to inflammation; |
| of that victory derived from the continued health of | | | | * Required in the biochemistry of adrenaline and the |
| "Limey" sailors? Vitamin C from lime juice was there | | | | catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and |
| to save the day. You may even know that nature | | | | dopamine, the latter two being heavily involved in |
| deems this substance so important that nearly every | | | | depression and anxiety); |
| animal species can make its own optimal amounts. | | | | * Retained in high concentration in neurons and |
| We human beings are among the few exceptions. | | | | modulates the effects of dopamine, serotonin and |
| What we need, we must get from our foods. | | | | GABA (neurotransmitters); |
| The healthful integrity of our skin, joints, teeth | | | | * Works with and revitalizes fat soluble vitamin E (an |
| bones, and our ability to heal wounds may be | | | | antioxidant, vitamin C is water soluble and also acts |
| maintained by the FDA's recommended 10 milligrams | | | | as an antioxidant); |
| of vitamin C per day. The current recommended daily | | | | * Helps prevent, alleviate, or cure arthritis; |
| allowance for vitamin C is barely enough to ward off | | | | * Helps recycle cholesterol necessary for nutrient |
| scurvy. That paltry "allowance" does not account for | | | | transport; |
| the great variation in our body's ongoing needs for | | | | * Helps maintain desirable blood pressure; |
| vitamin C. Sometimes our optimal requirement can be | | | | * Aids in the prevention and treatment of |
| thousands of milligrams per day. Our modern diet | | | | preeclampsia (pregnancy-related hypertension along |
| cannot provide it all. | | | | with damage to the kidneys, liver and the cells that |
| You may know to eat your fruits and vegetables | | | | line the blood vessels); |
| and still take some extra vitamin C if you feel a cold | | | | * Prevents oxidative stress in newborns via |
| or the flu coming on. Not everyone knows that the | | | | intravenous delivery; |
| vitamin C our bodies require varies with stress. Hans | | | | * Helps protect against vaccine adverse reactions; |
| Selye created what has become the standard | | | | * Increases vaccine-stimulated antibody production. |
| definition of stress, "A repeated or chronic state of | | | | What does Vitamin C have to do with learning? First, |
| physiological readiness that effectuates damage to | | | | anything that reduces inflammation is going to help |
| bodily balance and functions." Simply put, vitamin C | | | | the brain of a child struggling with learning issues. |
| wards off the damage caused by a persistently | | | | Research has shown that inflammation is related to |
| aroused physiology. | | | | memory deficits, learning impairment, cognitive |
| Selye's concept of this familiar term is broad, yet | | | | decline, Alzheimer's, autism spectrum disorders, and |
| specifically physiological: no matter the cause, our | | | | attention deficit disorders! |
| bodies are preparing for the worst. Constant | | | | So, how much should you or your child take? Well, |
| preparation initiates stress-induced tissue damage. We | | | | here's the kicker. There is so much conflicting |
| are meant to be able to gear up for crises. We are | | | | research and opinion that it's hard to say. If you ask |
| not meant to stay at that level of readiness. | | | | your doctor, he or she is going to tell you the RDA |
| The chemistry of physiological stress is derived from | | | | which is a sad and paltry amount of vitamin C (10 |
| social relationships, pregnancy, environmental toxins | | | | mg). Many alternative and complementary health care |
| (including vaccines and smoking), autoimmune | | | | practitioners suggest more like 1,000 mg per day! |
| conditions, viral or bacterial infections, bacterial toxins, | | | | When you take a look at all that vitamin C does |
| inflammation, wounds, diabetes, exercise, free radical | | | | (those bullet points above), you realize that vitamin C |
| damage (vitamin C is an anti-oxidant) and cancer. The | | | | is very important! Then, when you also realize that |
| list could go on. | | | | humans must get it from food, you think, "Uh-oh. my |
| Stressors cause our body to expend much more | | | | kids won't touch vegetables with a stick." Anyhow, |
| vitamin C, as it is put to work in hundreds of | | | | at the very least, 500 mg of vitamin C along with |
| biological processes. In turn, we must take in much | | | | lots of fruits and vegetables is probably the surest |
| more to regain a healthful balance. | | | | way to go. But here's the disclaimer: Check with your |
| Here's a partial list of what Vitamin C can do: | | | | doctor. |
| * Helps destroy viruses, bacteria, toxic minerals, | | | | |