Why we can't produce vitamin C: the human evolutionary paradox
💡 Did you know that the human body is incapable of producing vitamin C on its own? This is one of our evolutionary flaws. We don't have the enzyme to produce vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that animals produce in response to stress. The human body is not able to do that, so it has to get it from food.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that animals produce in response to stress. The human body is not able to do that, so it has to get it from food.
Food Sources of Vitamin C 🥝🥭🫑All fresh raw fruits and vegetables, especially bell peppers, kiwi, papaya, currants and other berries, citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables, mangoes and tomatoes.
❗️Significant losses occur when vegetables wilt or are cut because ascorbatoxidase is released from plant tissue.
Ascorbatoxidase is the reason why lemon or lime juice can prevent darkening (oxidation) of other foods (e.g., sliced apple): until used up, vitamin C forms an antioxidant barrier that protects against oxygen.
❗️Significant losses occur when vegetables wilt or are cut because ascorbatoxidase is released from plant tissue.
Ascorbatoxidase is the reason why lemon or lime juice can prevent darkening (oxidation) of other foods (e.g., sliced apple): until used up, vitamin C forms an antioxidant barrier that protects against oxygen.
How Vitamin C deficiency manifests itself:
Two noticeable signs of vitamin C deficiency show its role in maintaining the integrity of blood vessels:
- Gums around the teeth bleed easily.
- Capillaries under the skin spontaneously rupture, which can result in pinpoint hemorrhages.
When intake drops to about 1/5 of the optimal reserve (about a month after switching to a low vitamin C diet), symptoms of scurvy appear:
- bleeding due to insufficient collagen synthesis.
- Muscle degeneration and rough brown flaky skin.
- wounds don't heal. Bone repair is poor - fractures may occur.
Two noticeable signs of vitamin C deficiency show its role in maintaining the integrity of blood vessels:
- Gums around the teeth bleed easily.
- Capillaries under the skin spontaneously rupture, which can result in pinpoint hemorrhages.
When intake drops to about 1/5 of the optimal reserve (about a month after switching to a low vitamin C diet), symptoms of scurvy appear:
- bleeding due to insufficient collagen synthesis.
- Muscle degeneration and rough brown flaky skin.
- wounds don't heal. Bone repair is poor - fractures may occur.
🚭One cigarette reduces vitamin C in the body by 25 mg. 🚭
25 MARCH/ 2024
Author: Ludmila Sukach