Vitamin C

5 Pages 1234 Words

The ancient Egyptians were known for performing the first type of brain surgery by drilling a small hole in the back of a patient’s head to release the fluid pressure on the brain. Today doctors have gone beyond the simplicity of brain surgery and mapped out the human genetic code. After thousands of years and so many medical achievements the human race still cannot prevent falling victim to the common cold with any type of over the counter or prescription medication.
A “cold” is a viral or bacterial infection in the body that the immune system cannot fight off immediately with antibodies (Wan). When the infection invades the body the immune system is triggered and it tries to determine if the infection is new or a returning visitor. If the infection is a returning visitor the immune system releases killer T cells to destroy the infection within 48 hours of the invasion and the host never knew there was an infection in the body. If the infection is new it triggers a chain of events that is known by every living human on the face of the earth. “The common cold causes a tremendous amount of human suffering. The cold may be followed by a sinus infection, ear infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, or kidney and heart problems. The average incidence of colds is about three per person per year lasting from three to ten days” (Pauling 7).
In order to fight off infection the resistance of the immune system must be kept at a high level. Resistance is the ability of the immune system to fight off an infection,
foreign or known, without affecting the host (Wan). Ascorbic acid, vitamin C, enhances the body’s resistance to an assortment of diseases including cancer. Vitamin C stimulates the activity of the antibodies in the immune system and keeps them ready to fight off any invader to enter the human body.
Human beings are very unique in the fact that they do not produce a supply of vitamin C in the body but mus...