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Do suffer from dry scaly skin with hair follicles plugged with coiled distorted hairs and a red halo?

You may be deficient in VITAMIN C

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble, antioxidant vitamin. It is important in forming collagen, a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels. Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of iron, and helps maintain capillaries, bones, and teeth.

“Good source” of vitamin C contains a substantial amount of vitamin C in relation to its calorie content and contributes at least 10 percent of the U.S. Adequate Intake (AI) for vitamin C in a selected serving size. The U.S. AI for vitamin C is 90 milligrams per day for men and 75 milligrams per day for women. The U.S. AI given is for adults ages 19–50, and the recommended changes are for pregnant and/or lactating women. Consult your healthcare provider for these differences. The AI is also increased for smokers. Smoking increases oxidative stress—as a result, it is recommended that smokers consume 35 more milligrams of vitamin C per day.

Eating a variety of foods that contain vitamin C is the best way to get an adequate amount each day. Healthy individuals who eat a balanced diet rarely need supplements. Select foods that are good sources of vitamin C as you follow the Dietary Guidelines.

How to prepare foods to retain vitamin C.

Vitamin C can be lost from foods during preparation, cooking, or storage. To prevent loss of vitamin C:

Serve fruits and vegetables raw whenever possible.
Steam, boil, or simmer foods in a very small amount of water, or microwave them for the shortest time possible.
Cook potatoes in their skins. Be sure to wash the dirt off the outside of the potato.
Refrigerate prepared juices and store them for no more than two to three days.
Store cut, raw fruits and vegetables in an airtight container and refrigerate—do not soak or store in water. Vitamin C will be dissolved in the water.

When there is a shortage of VITAMIN C, various problems can arise, although scurvy is the only disease clinically treated with vitamin C. However, a shortage of vitamin C may result in "pinpoint" hemorrhages under the skin and a tendency to bruise easily, poor wound healing, soft and spongy bleeding gums and loose teeth. 

Edema (water retention) also happens with a shortage of vitamin C, and weakness, a lack of energy, poor digestion, painful joints and bronchial infection and colds are also indicative of an under-supply.

It is interesting to note that most animals produce their own vitamin C. Man, primates (apes, chimps, etc.) and guinea pigs have lost this ability. Due to this similarity with man, guinea pigs have been subjected to experimentation over the years.

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