Almost everyone has heard of vitamin C. Doctors often prescribe it to increase the body's resistance. Also, vitamin C is often prescribed to children. Parents believe that by giving this remedy to a child, it is possible to protect him from many viral diseases. However, is vitamin C always useful? You can learn about the positive properties and dangers of this substance from the materials of the article.
Benefits of Vitamin C
Even schoolchildren know that the lack of this substance in the body leads to disturbances in the work of various organs and systems. After all, vitamin C is extremely important for maintaining a normal metabolism. The human body cannot produce this substance on its own. Therefore, people are forced to get vitamin C from food (vegetables, fruits).
This substance has the following beneficial properties:
- Supports normal carbohydrate metabolism in the body.
- Promotes the improvement of intracellularmetabolism.
- Stimulates the production of essential hormones.
- Helps the body absorb other vitamins.
- Strengthens bones and teeth.
- Increases the body's resistance to various infections.
But despite all these useful qualities, this substance should not be abused. It must be remembered that vitamin C in excess can harm he alth and even provoke intoxication.
When is it recommended to use ascorbic acid?
This remedy is an artificial source of vitamin C. It is important to use this substance correctly, because its excess can do more harm than good. Before you start taking vitamin C (pellets), you should carefully study the instructions for use.
First of all, you need to decide who this tool is recommended for.
So, you need to take ascorbic acid in the following cases:
- Having an alcohol or nicotine addiction.
- Physical surge.
- Living in an area with an unfavorable climate.
- Puberty.
- Infections.
- Rehabilitation after serious illnesses.
- Period of using hormonal contraceptives.
- Intoxication.
In the presence of the above conditions, vitamin C (pellets) is used at a dose of 500 milligrams. However, you should not self-medicate, because the remedy is not as harmless as it seems. To avoid taking too much vitamin C, you need toconsult your doctor before taking it.
Acceptable dosage
Any remedy must be taken correctly, and vitamin C (drops) is no exception. The instructions for use say that ascorbic acid is best consumed after meals, in which case it is well absorbed by the body. The optimal dosage of the substance for adults varies from fifty to one hundred milligrams per day. In childhood, the maximum amount is 75 mg per day. During the period of bearing a child and breastfeeding, you should consume from 75 milligrams of ascorbic acid for ten to fifteen days. Then the dose should be increased to 100 mg. However, it must be remembered that for some, taking ascorbic acid can cause side effects, such as inflammation of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, as well as hypertension. But even if a person does not have these symptoms, he must strictly adhere to the doctor's recommendations for the use of vitamin C. An excess of the substance leads to disruption of the functioning of various organs.
Foods containing vitamin C
Ascorbic acid should be consumed as an additional source of an important substance for the body. However, the bulk of vitamin C must be obtained from food. So, what food contains this substance? These products are:
- Cabbage.
- Berries: cranberry, currant, wild rose.
- Citrus fruits (grapefruits, lemons, tangerines, oranges).
- Parsley.
- Tomatoes.
- Bulgarian pepper.
- Kiwi.
Eating these foods, care must be taken to avoid the phenomenon of vitamin C overdose.
Doctors recommend eating these fruits and vegetables in the following amounts:
- One orange.
- 1 bell pepper.
- 2 medium sized tomatoes.
- Blackcurrant (twenty pieces).
- One hundred and two hundred grams of cabbage.
- Kiwi (1 piece).
This is the daily norm, which is important to strictly adhere to. It should be remembered that during freezing and heat treatment, a significant proportion of the vitamin is still preserved.
Who is this substance dangerous for?
Despite all the beneficial properties of vitamin C, there are diseases and situations in which it should be used with extreme caution. These are the states:
- Presence of stones in the genitourinary system.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Pregnancy and lactation.
In the presence of these conditions, it is necessary to use the remedy only after consulting a specialist.
Many parents who are worried about the he alth of their child and strengthening his immunity, give him ascorbic acid. However, its independent use can lead to an overdose of vitamin C. And it, in turn, is dangerous for the development of diabetes in childhood. During the period of bearing a child, hypervitaminosis can lead to spontaneous abortion. Sometimes in women whoabuse of vitamin C, children are born with malformations.
Is it possible to overdose?
Despite the fact that ascorbic acid is sold without a doctor's prescription, if used improperly, it can lead to very sad consequences.
Vitamin C dissolves in water and is excreted from the body through the kidneys. However, in case of its excessive use, the substance can lead to intoxication. This is most likely in the following situations:
- The use of ascorbic acid to prevent diseases (for example, during epidemics).
- During infections, when the patient does not follow the doctor's instructions for the use of vitamin C, an overabundance is also possible.
- If, when using ascorbic acid, there are many foods high in this substance in the diet.
- Children accidentally ingesting large amounts of drug.
- When taking ascorbic acid and other vitamin supplements at the same time.
Signs of an overdose
Unfortunately, such hypervitaminosis is sometimes difficult to recognize, since pathological phenomena do not occur immediately. An overabundance of vitamin C has the following symptoms:
- Sluggishness.
- Dizziness.
- Diarrhea.
- Heartburn.
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Skin rash.
- Nausea, repeated vomiting.
- Itching.
- Excitability.
The appearance of similar symptoms in both children and adultsrequires immediate medical attention.
Complications of hypervitaminosis
What threatens an overabundance of vitamin C for a long time? The following pathological phenomena can be listed as complications of hypervitaminosis:
- Diseases of the pancreas.
- Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, the development of peptic ulcer.
- Pathologies of the genitourinary system.
- Lack of other nutrients.
- Allergic reactions that persist for a long time.
- Disorders of the monthly cycle.
- Development of hypertension.
- Spontaneous abortions.
Hypervitaminosis in pregnant women
During the period of bearing a child, many experts recommend ascorbic acid to women as an additional source of vitamin C. However, if the patient does not follow the doctor's instructions and exceeds the dosage of the substance, this can lead to negative consequences. What happens with an excess of vitamin C in pregnant women? Typically, hypervitaminosis is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Weakness.
Every pregnant woman should remember that excessive intake of vitamin C can adversely affect the condition of the unborn child. He may develop birth defects (such as heart disease) and scurvy.
Vitamin C hypervitaminosisin children
The child's body is extremely sensitive to any adverse factors. Therefore, an overdose of vitamins adversely affects children's he alth. Parents need to be careful when using ascorbic acid. Before giving this remedy to a child, you need to consult a doctor and follow his recommendations regarding dosage in the future.
If a child accidentally finds a vitamin pack and takes an excessive amount of pills, he will show signs of poisoning. If such symptoms occur in children, urgent measures must be taken to eliminate them.
Help for hypervitaminosis
This substance is quickly absorbed by the body. With an excess of vitamin C, treatment should begin with cleansing the stomach. This event must be carried out immediately in order to remove the excess amount of the substance from the body. In order to wash the stomach, you need to drink about two liters of pure non-carbonated water. After this procedure, the best option for helping with an overdose is to call an ambulance. If medical workers refuse to take the victim to a medical facility, you should strongly ask them to do so. Since an excess of vitamin C in the body can further provoke unexpected complications, the patient's condition should be monitored in a hospital setting. Only in the hospital will he be able to provide adequate medical care if a critical situation arises.
Conclusions
Vitamin C is essential for normal functioningall body systems. This vitamin is quickly absorbed, but is not produced in the human body on its own. It can only be obtained from food or artificial sources (eg ascorbic acid, speci alty drinks). Lack of vitamin C is dangerous for the body. However, an excess of this substance can also lead to serious consequences: the formation of stones in the genitourinary system, allergies, disorders of the stomach and intestines, the development of diabetes in children, miscarriages, and serious poisoning. Therefore, those who would like to use ascorbic acid should first consult with a specialist. Only a doctor is able to choose an adequate dosage of the drug for the patient, depending on his age and state of he alth. With excessive use of vitamin C, a person needs urgent hospitalization, as this condition is extremely dangerous. If it is possible to obtain this substance naturally (from vegetables, fruits, vitamin drinks), it is better to refuse artificial sources.
