Strawberries are a better source of vitamin C than oranges — eight strawberries contains more vitamin C than one orange. Other surprising sources of vitamin C include kale, mustard greens, bell peppers and cauliflower.
More facts about vitamin C:
- Vitamin C is active in protecting the body from many illnesses and conditions, including heart disease, cataracts and some forms of cancer. It also works together with vitamin E, an antioxidant, and can increase iron absorption.
- Though vitamin C is water-soluble and the body usually excretes any extra, it is possible to have vitamin C toxicity. This can cause nausea, diarrhea and acidic urine. You'd have to eat the equivalent of 160 strawberries or almost 20 oranges in a day to reach toxic levels of vitamin C, however.
- One of the groups at the highest risk for vitamin C deficiency is older, widowed men. Many of these men to not get the variety of nutrition that they need to maintain proper vitamin levels, and the early signs of vitamin C deficiency are easy to mistake for natural aging.