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Plant Sources of Vitamin C |
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Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient for humans, in which it functions as a vitamin. Simply Ascorbate (the anion of ascorbic acid) is required for a range of essential metabolic reactions in all animals and plants. Vitamin C is important for growth and repair of bones, teeth, skin. It helps the body maintain healthy tissues and a strong immune system, and it aids in the absorption of iron. If you smoke you need an extra 35 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C per day. Deficiency in this vitamin causes the disease scurvy in humans. Any extra amount of vitamin C is lost through the urine. Plants are a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is water-soluble which means that the body is unable to store it. Therefore, vitamin C must be taken on a daily basis. There are many different types of vegetables and fruits that contain a lot of vitamin C, but be careful how you prepare them as vitamin C can be lost in the liquids in which they are cooked. Name of the Plant Sources of Vitamin C |