(NaturalNews) Of all the vitamins, vitamin C is perhaps the best-known and most familiar to the general public. What most people know is that this vitamin can help to strengthen the immune system. There are dozens of over-the-counter products for taming the flu and or colds which contain high amounts of vitamin C and which are promoted as being able to help shorten the duration of the illness. But while it is true that this vitamin does make it easier for the body to fight off bacterial or viral infections, its health benefits go far beyond just avoiding illnesses. Read on to find out more about the ways in which regular vitamin C consumption promotes a longer life and helps to reduce the chances of developing many common conditions which can shorten it.

Antioxidant power

One thing which many people may not realize about vitamin C is that it is a strong antioxidant. In other words, it is able to help prevent DNA damage that is done to cells throughout the body because of oxidative stress. It is the antioxidant properties of vitamin C which many speculate are at the root of the new study which was just recently published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In this study, based on health data collected on over 100,000 people living in Denmark, it was discovered that those who had the highest levels of vitamin C in their bloodstream were the least likely to die prematurely or develop heart disease. And since heart disease remains the number one killer both in America and in many other developed countries, this was considered to be a significant finding.

This is not the only way in which vitamin C can help extend life, however.

The other benefits of vitamin C

Aside from its antioxidant powers, there are other ways in which vitamin C can help prolong both quantity and quality of life. For one thing, vitamin C helps the body to manufacture collagen, which in turn is used to help regenerate and protect muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues throughout the body. These connective tissues play a vital role in maintaining the health of important organs like the heart, the liver and the pancreas.

Other important functions of vitamin C in the body include the promotion of wound healing, the production of the blood vessels which carry oxygen and nutrients all over the body and even with the regulation of moods and emotions. Taken all and all, then, it is no surprise that high vitamin C levels can lead to a longer life.

In short, the health benefits of vitamin C go far beyond just fighting off the flu and colds - it can truly promote a longer life. For those who want to make sure that they are getting enough vitamin C in their diets, fruits and vegetables such as oranges, apples, orange or red peppers and sweet potatoes as well as leafy green vegetables are excellent ways to make sure that vitamin C levels in the body are just where they should be to promote health and longevity.

Sources:

http://www.biospace.com

http://www.thehealthsite.com

http://www.foodworldnews.com

About the author:
Sandeep has written many health field articles for both Internet and print publication. He currently writing for insurancetips4u.co.

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