Fun Holidays - Vitamin C Day

Human health depends on the ecology of the place of residence, regular physical activity, proper and balanced nutrition Vitamins, minerals and trace elements must be supplied to the body with food or in the form of dietary supplements A person can produce some substances for normal functioning on his own Thus, bifidobacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract synthesize vitamin K, promote the absorption of vitamin D, and quite actively produce B vitamins The body cannot produce some low-molecular organic compounds on its own These include vitamin C Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant that stops the accumulation of free radicals It strengthens the immune system, supports the functioning of the central nervous system and helps fight stress, because found in the adrenal glands, which are involved in the production of the hormone cortisol Biochemist Charles King's isolation of pure vitamin C from lemon juice in the laboratory was an important event in human history The registration of an organic compound with the formula C6H8O6 took place on April 4, 1932 In honor of the scientific discovery, a holiday was established - Vitamin C Day Scientists discovered ascorbic acid (that is, acting against scurvy - “scurvy” in Greek) in food products in 1912 The colorless, light and water-soluble element is found in large quantities in citrus fruits, berries and vegetables Most animals and plants can produce vitamin C on their own Humans and other primates lost this ability during evolution Ascorbic acid is involved in the growth and restoration of gum cells, bones and teeth, blood vessels, participates in the breakdown of fats, and promotes the absorption of iron by the body The lack of vitamin C led to mass deaths from scurvy among the crews of Vasco da Gama's team and other travelers of the era of great discoveries Therefore, Peter I, when creating the Russian fleet, ordered the introduction of oranges and lemons, delivered from the south of Europe, into the diet of sailors The synthesis of ascorbic acid in 1933 by scientists Howard and Reinstein was a real breakthrough in the development of science, which helped cope with scurvy, a disease that claimed millions of lives In 1928, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, a biochemist of Hungarian origin from the United States, discovered a seemingly incredible connection between the appearance of dark circles around the eyes, hyperpigmentation of the skin of patients suffering from adrenal insufficiency and Adison's disease, and the darkening of fresh cuts of potatoes, pears and apples While citrus fruits did not darken, ie There was no oxidation process in the pulp upon contact with air From red bell peppers, oranges, lemons and from the adrenal cortex, A Szent-Gyorgyi isolated an antioxidant, which he called hexuronic acid, later renamed ascorbic acid In 1937, the scientist received the Nobel Prize for the discovery of this “substance of life” But the first step in this direction was taken in 1932 by C King Therefore, every year on April 4, Vitamin C Day is celebrated around the world