Researchers say that vitamin C can be effective in preventing many major diseases like diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.

Many animals like monkeys and guinea pigs produce their own vitamin C, but humans and few other animals cannot produce vitamin C on their own.

So, the required amount is compensated by taking the vitamin from the outside sources like citrus fruits, cherries, and several other fruits and vegetables. The deficiency of vitamin C can lead to a disease called scurvy, which can be diagnosed by blood tests.

In a study conducted on men, it was found that the risk of heart disease decreased by 40% by an intake of 50 mg of vitamin C per day. In a same study done on women, it was noted that heart disease risk reduced by almost 25%.

In another study, in which 800 men with lung cancer participated, researchers found that the risk decreased by 64% by consuming only 83 mg of vitamin C per day.

In the wake of these findings, the National Cancer Institute has recommended at least 5 to 10 servings of vegetables or fruits per day.

But many medical experts are skeptical about the vitamin C therapy, as they believe that not many evidences are present to prove that vitamin C intake is actually beneficial for such complex illnesses.