Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin typically associated with the immune system. It is important to the body in many ways. Stored in the liver and excreted through urine, vitamin C’s major function is as a co factor in the formation and repair of collagen. Vitamin C is abundant in many foods such as oranges, grapefruits, peppers and cantaloupes. There are also vitamin C supplements available that can be taken orally.

Although vitamin C cannot prevent the common cold, it can relieve the symptoms. Typically, if your diet is high in vitamin C, you will get over your cold faster. On a grander scale, vitamin C has antioxidant properties that help prevent cancer, cataracts and heart disease and can treat high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes.

It is not common to have a vitamin C deficiency, but the result can lead to scurvy.