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Ascorbic Acid – better known as vitamin C – is an essential nutrient that contributes to better health. This nutrient is instrumental to the thousands of biological processes within the human body. It promotes immunity, aids in cell repair, and protects from oxidative stress.
Multiple studies show that vitamin C has the ability to fight malignant cells, suppress the proliferation of cancer cells and even shrink tumors. But how true are these claims? Is there proof that vitamin C really fights cancer? In today’s post, we are listing down ways vitamin C protects the body from the big C:
Enzyme Inhibitor
Collagen is a protein that strengthens the bones, cartilage, tendons, veins, and arteries. This nutrient is also linked to the suppression of cancer cells. As we age, the body no longer produces enough collagen and this leads to weak bones and veins.
In a study titled “Hyaluronidase and Cancer,” Dr. Ewan Cameron, a surgeon at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Scotland, theorized that cancerous tumors produce two types of enzyme: hyaluronidase and collagenase. These enzymes cause cells to surround a tumor, allowing malignant tumors to spread. Vitamin C happens to be a natural inhibitor of these enzymes. It works by boosting the collagen level in the body. Administering high dose of vitamin C keeps healthy cells away from tumors, limiting malignant cells’ access to healthy cells.
Boosts Immunity
We all know that vitamin C is an effective immunity booster. This nutrient increases the body’s resistance to common viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Vitamin C also speeds up healing. This is the reason why most doctors recommend increasing the consumption of vitamin C-rich foods to patients recovering from burns, infections, wounds, and surgery.
The vitamin C’s unique ability to eradicate bacteria contributes to a strong immune system. A strong immune system is critical to the production of interferon. Interferon protects healthy cells from damage caused by cancer.
Multiple studies confirm that ascorbic acid has the ability to neutralize oxidative stress. It suppresses the oxidation of fats into harmful peroxides. Vitamin C also interferes with the production of and activity of free radicals in the system. Free radicals are destructive ions that cause oxidative stress. Health experts believe that oxidative stress is the precursor to chronic diseases, including the Big C.
Obliterates Viruses and Bacteria
Vitamin C’s efficacy in destroying free radicals is comparable to its efficiency in killing bacteria and viruses. Studies show that the body uses ascorbic acid to deactivate certain strains of bacteria. According to clinical tests conducted by Dr. Akira Murata, high dose sodium ascorbate renders harmful bacteria and viruses inactive in just 20 minutes. A separate Japanese study also reports that vitamin C reduces oxygen level to incapacitate free radicals. Free radicals and cancer-causing microbes thrive in an oxygen-rich environment. Without oxygen, the nucleic acid of the offending microbe is destroyed.
Reduces Allergic Reactions
Yes, vitamin C has the unique ability to reduce allergic reactions. Ascorbic acid disrupts the production of histamines in the body. Histamines are chemicals released by the immune system in response to an allergen. Unfortunately, allergic reaction leads to sustained internal inflammation. Studies show that sustained inflammation can lead to cancer. By inhibiting the production of histamines, inflammation from an allergic reaction is avoided. When the body is free from inflammation, it becomes resistant to cancer-causing microbes.
