Vitamin C – how much is good enough?

Suppose you are suffering from common cold and it may be a chronic problem that time to time afflicts you. At the same time there is a popular notion that vitamin C preparation acts as a protective barrier against catching cold. You innocently start taking high dosage of vitamin C tablet. After all, vitamin C preparations are having luscious taste in most of the cases. It gives a touch of prickle and a natural liking, triggering our basic sense of gut feeling.  You do not know this may make you land up with kidney stone problem. The reason is simple. If taken for long period with higher dose, vitamin C may induce a deposition of oxalate in urinary system and that deposited oxalate gradually crystallizes and manifests itself in formation of kidney stone. Cases are easily traceable. It is still a paradox that whether vitamin C has a protective role in preventing common cold or not. No medical research confirms this finding till. This high dose may adversely attack some selective individuals with some bodily enzyme deficiency. It has been noticed that high dose and prolonged use of vitamin C may aggravate a certain type of anemia. In other words, it reduces the number of active red blood cells. It is done in a specific process inside the human body, known as hemolysis or ‘breaking down of the active red blood cells’. Other troubles like insufficient sleep, headache and tummy trouble go hand in hand alongside.

You better see the obverse side of the coin also and it will positively boost up your confidence regarding the judicious use of this essential vitamin.  In 1750s, The British government was very much upset after noticing a peculiar form of diseases that used to afflict a number of military soldiers. The high risk zone was naval army. The disease particularly affected the skin. The skin became hemorrhagic with partial bleeding; the gum got swelled with continual bleeding. The anemia lastly ensued.

The medical body diagnosed the condition as ‘scurvy’. The long voyage had a predilection for this disease, and got the other popular name ‘sea scurvy’.

Medical experts treated those cases with orange and lemon juice with normal diet. Amazingly, most of the affected soldiers rejoined their duties after few weeks of treatment. There is another significant benefit of vitamin C. Continuous exposure to pollution damages our many essential body tissues. It induces to generate some very harmful substances in side the body, known as ‘free radicals’. These free radicals may induce many functional problems. It may start with blood pressure problem and can go up to cancer formation inside the body. It has been clinically reported that vitamin C may act here as scavenger and may assist to remove these free radicals from the body. There are other many beneficial effects, which can be derived from therapeutic use of vitamin C. It is always better to consult with some clinician to know the exact requirement of vitamin C.

Last but not least, you better, be a medical samurai to handle this double edged sword effectively.

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