Vitamin C is naturally produced in a majority of living organisms, with the exception of guinea pigs, primates and humans. Even dogs and cats can produce their own vitamin C from the food they’ve ingested which is then metabolized into glucose.
Most animals and plants are capable of synthesizing their own vitamin C through a biochemical pathway which is dependent on 4 different types of enzymes that function to convert glucose to vitamin C. Â In mammals, the glucose is extracted from stored sugar, known as glycogen. The transformation into vitamin C is produced in the liver.
Humans, on the other hand, need to consume vitamin C rich food sources to make up for what the body can’t produce on its own, otherwise, people may be at risk of developing severe health complications. In fact, glucose and vitamin C share a connection between the body’s immunity and overall cellular health. Consuming the proper levels of vitamin C is ultimately essential. The following 5 key points can help individuals effectively increase their vitamin C intake levels.
Vitamin C is a fundamental substance for optimal body health and, because human’s can’t produce it on their own, consuming vitamin C rich food sources and/or adding supplements to a balanced diet can help keep this vitamin on a healthy level. Aside from being a well-known remedy to relieve the common cold and boost immunity, vitamin C is essential towards cell health. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.