C That Funky Vitamin
Could this be the ghost of Casimir Funk? Or an abstracted Scream by Edvard Munch? No, this here picture's of vitamin C. Without lemons and broccoli where would we be? Dying of scurvy, possibly.

Sailors had been eating citrus with their sea biscuits for more than a hundred years when vitamin C - ascorbic acid - was "discovered" in the early 20th century. At the dawn of the new millennium the scientific community is still discussing vitamin C's role in maintaining bodily processes and promoting health. Whether vitamin C can cure cancer is still up for debate, but we do know that ascorbic acid is essential for collagen production. Collagen is the stuff that binds cells together. Water-soluble vitamin C also protects fat-soluble vitamins (like A and E) and fatty acids from oxidizing in the body.

Unfortunately, the human body doesn't make it's own vitamin C. The best way to get enough is by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables cooked as minimally as possible. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus (like orange and grapefruit), green leafy veggies (like broccoli, cabbage and kale) and the edible nightshades (tomatoes, peppers and potatoes). Enriched processed foods and supplements can also ensure your daily requirements are met.

How much vitamin C does your body actually need? That's also a hot topic. The FDA recommends 60mg per day for an adult. Some say that eating a balanced diet achieves this easily. Others say megadoses (of thousands of milligrams) are the way to go. But the fact remains that the body can't store vitamin C and use it later. If you ingest a large quantity, your body will use what it needs and get rid of the rest.