Vitamin File - Vitamin C or ascorbic acid... It's not just oranges!
Add some vitamins to your grocery basket

An antioxidant that prevents scurvy and infections, vitamin C is synonymous with health and vigor. Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen which reduces the effects of aging.

Its reparative effects renew and oxygenate skin.

There also exists a sub-group called bioflavonoids which are complementary, boosting the effectiveness of products with a high vitamin C content. If you read the ingredients on your cereal box, you'll certainly see the name on the list. And when you leave the white pith (the layer between the zest and the flesh) on citrus fruits, you'll be getting a healthy dose of bioflavonoids, whether you know it or not!

Vitamin C is found in ...

• all citrus fruits
• tomatoes
• chilies
• green leafy vegetables, cabbage, turnip
• herbs, particularly parsley
• dark-colored berries like blackcurrants and blueberries

The sooner fruits and vegetables are eaten after being picked, the higher their vitamin C content will be.