The consumption of citrus fruits increases, but that of vegetables that contain it decreases. In this season it serves to strengthen the body’s defenses.
When the temperature drops below zero and flu viruses are circulating, more vitamin C is needed. Its role in helping the body fight flu and cold viruses is well known.
Yet, according to a survey by the Grana Padano Nutritional Observatory conducted on a sample of about 7,600 individuals, compared to a greater consumption of typical winter fruits, namely citrus fruits, in Italy very few vegetables rich in vitamin C are brought to the table, such as tomatoes, salad, cabbage and broccoli.
The amount of vitamin C introduced daily is on average 143 mg for women and 146 mg in men, adequate values for a healthy person according to international guidelines. But that may not be enough at this time of year.
Delicate molecule, which easily goes “up in smoke”
We must also consider the fact that vitamin C is sensitive to light and oxygen, so it is enough to store foods poorly to lower the quota they can provide.
And it is also unstable to heat: cooking vegetables is lost in large quantities, especially by boiling.
A single cigarette is enough, then, to make about 20 mg of vitamin C disappear from the body. Smokers should therefore introduce more vitamins, or try to quit the habit.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.