Vitamin C
Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid. It has several important functions, including keeping cells healthy and maintaining healthy connective tissue, which gives support and structure for other tissue and organs.
Good sources of vitamin C
Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Good sources include:
- peppers
- broccoli
- brussels sprouts
- sweet potatoes
- oranges
- kiwi fruit
How much vitamin C you need
Adults need 40mg of vitamin C a day.
Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day.
You should be able to get all the vitamin C you need from your daily diet.
Taking too much vitamin C
Taking large amounts of vitamin C can cause:
- stomach pain
- diarrhoea
- flatulence
These symptoms should disappear once you stop taking vitamin C supplements.