C? Si!

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin needed for the growth  and repair of tissues in all parts of the body. It is necessary  to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin,  scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C  is essential for the healing of wounds, and for the repair and  maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth. Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants. Vitamin E and  beta-carotene are two other well known antioxidants.  Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage  caused by free radicals, which are by- products that result  when our bodies transform food into energy. The build up  of these by-products over time is largely responsible for the  aging process and can contribute to the development of various  health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and a host  of inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Antioxidants also  help reduce the damage to the body caused by toxic chemicals  and pollutants such as cigarette smoke. The body does not manufacture vitamin C on its own, nor  does it store it. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in one's daily diet. Large amounts  of vitamin C are used by the body during any kind of healing  process, whether it's from an infection, disease, injury, or surgery.  In these cases supplemental vitamin C may be needed.

The University of Maryland Medical Center lists the following  uses for Vitamin C ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Heart Disease - Those with low levels of vitamin C may be more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or peripheral artery disease, all potential outcomes of atherosclerosis. Peripheral artery disease is the term used to describe atherosclerosis of the blood vessels to the legs. This can lead to pain with walking, known as intermittent claudication. In terms of damage that can cause atherosclerosis, some studies have shown that vitamin C helps prevent oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol - a process that contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries. Under most circumstances, dietary vitamin C is adequate for protecting gainst the development of or consequences from cardiovascular disease. If you have low levels of this nutrient, however, and find it difficult to obtain through dietary sources, a knowledgeable healthcare provider may recommend vitamin C supplements. High Cholesterol - Information from several studies, involving only small numbers of people, suggest that vitamin C (3 glasses of orange juice per day or up to 2000 mg per day as a supplement) may help decrease total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as increase HDL levels (the good kind of cholesterol). Studies evaluating larger groups of people would be helpful in determining how accurate these preliminary research results are and to whom this potential benefit applies.

High Blood Pressure - Free radicals, the damaging by-products  of metabolism mentioned earlier, are associated with higher  blood pressure in studies of animals and people. Population  based studies (which involve observing large groups of people  over time) suggest that people who eat foods rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, are less prone to high blood pressure than  people without these nutritious foods in their diet. For this reason,  many clinicians recommend foods rich in vitamin C, particularly  if you are at risk for high blood pressure. In fact, the diet most frequently recommended for treatment and prevention of hypertension, known as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)  diet advocates lots of fruits and vegetables, which are loaded with  antioxidants. Osteoarthritis - Vitamin C is essential for normal  cartilage. Plus, free radicals can be produced in the joints and  have been implicated in many degenerative changes in the aging  body, including destruction of cartilage and connective tissue  that lead to arthritis. Antioxidants appear to offset the damage  caused by free radicals. Although further evidence is needed to  substantiate these claims, studies of groups of people observed  over time suggest that vitamin C, as well as vitamin E, may help to  reduce the symptoms of OA.

Cataracts - Studies have shown that vitamin C may slow or even  stop the progression of cataracts in the elderly. A recent study, for example, of women from the Nurses' Health Study (a very large,  important study that has followed women over many years) showed  that women under 60 years of age who had high dietary intake of  vitamin C or who had used vitamin C supplements for 10 years or  more had significantly reduced chances of developing cataracts. Diabetes - Vitamin C may be helpful for people with diabetes in a number of ways. First, some studies suggest that people with  diabetes have high levels of free radicals (the damaging metabolic  by- products, mentioned earlier, associated with many chronic illnesses) and low levels of antioxidants, including vitamin C. This imbalance may contribute to the fact that those with diabetes are at greater risk for  developing conditions such as high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. Secondly, insulin (which is low in type 1 diabetics and does not  function properly in type 2 diabetics) helps cells in the body take  up the vitamin C that they need to function properly. At the same  time, lots of circulating blood sugar (glucose), as is often the  present in diabetics, prevents the cells from getting the vitamin C  that they need, even if eating lots of fruits of vegetables.  For this reason, taking extra vitamin C in the form of supplements  may be helpful in those with diabetes. Click Here to Learn More About Vitamin C.