Frailty and vitamin C

Frailty and vitamin C is part of the greater well-being for Christians series given at the Church of the Ascension, Hilton.

Can we prevent frailty? How is it defined, and is it already too late?

Never was prevention more better than seeking a cure after the event.

Regaining your well-being, and preventing frailty syndrome, is an ongoing spiritual battle. It won't be easy.

John Bunyan

I saw then in my dream that Christian went on his way, that is until he came to the bottom of the hill. There he found, beside the path, three-men fast asleep with chains attached to their heels. The name of one was Simple, another was Sloth, and the third Presumption.

Understanding the role of vitamin-C in frailty really is simple, but if we are slothful in not making sure we have it daily, or presume that only others become frail, then we need to beware.

Chains of sloth

Wonderful the matchless-grace of Jesus,
Chains have been torn asunder,
setting my spirit free,
Oh the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

No more shall there be an old man who does not see out his days.

What is frailty syndrome?

• Low grip strength
• Low energy
• Slowed walking speed
• Low physical activity
• Unintentional weight loss
  

Any three of these present means you have frailty syndrome^[3].

Low grip strength

• Opening a bottle?
• Using scissors or gardening-secateurs.
  

These are my wife's fingers. She has rheumatoid arthritis, but because of our commitment to an anti-inflammatory diet, she has no pain. But I have to open tight bottles. She uses secateurs daily, for fun and to strengthen her hands.

Low energy

• Medical checkup. Anaemia?
• Sloth?
• Pain?
  

Slowed walking speed

• Mark out 4.6m - about 5 paces.
  
• Can you walk it in 6 or 7 seconds?

Low physical activity

• Sloth?
• Too busy?
• Computer potato?
  
• Sore ankle?
  

Unintentional weight loss

• Have you lost 4.5kg or more in the last year.
• Microbiome; should you be having a probiotic like kefir?
• Could you have Coeliac Disease? Then the only flour you can eat must be made with the sourdough method.
  

Research

• Vitamin C 
  
• Folic acid (B9) 
  
• Vitamin B6 
  
• Vitamin E
  

If you are having inadequate supplies of any one of these four-vitamins then you are far more likely to become frail long before your time.

Vitamin C

Vitamins were unknown in the 18th-century when British captain Anson circumnavigated the world. Out of 1900 sailors, 1400 died, mostly of scurvy. Scottish doctor James Lind proposed they start eating limes.

This is what a vitamin C deficiency causes. Dr Lind found there's a simple cure; limes.

• Scurvy
• Tiredness, lethargy, malaise
• Depression
• Weak ligaments and tendons (collagen)
• Gum disease
• Poor slipped disc healing
• Fragile blood vessels^[1]

What is collagen?^[2]

• Collagen is the glue that holds our cells together.
• Vitamin C is vital in the synthesis of collagen^[2].
• Weak ankles?
• Recurrent slipped disc?
• Sagging wrinkled skin?
  

How much vitamin C?

The required daily amount is about 90mg, but if deficient then 500mg per day.

• 1 grapefruit 70mg
• 1 orange 51mg
• 1 lime 20mg
• 1 lemon 31mg
• 1 cup red pepper 116mg

More than half of these amounts is found the pulp, the rest in the juice. Enjoying whole foods is the secret to preventing frailty and vitamin C, and a host of other conditions.

Simple drinks with vitamin C

• Hot water and lemon
• Fruit drink - lime, mango and mint
• Citrus drink - orange, grapefruit and naartje
  
• Ginger, lemon and pepperdew
• Salad - lettuce, pepper and avo; lemon juice and olive oil.
  
• This spicy ginger and lemon-tea is a favourite in the late afternoon; I sleep much better.
  

Frailty and vitamin C

Frailty and vitamin-C is all about caring for the temple; we owe it to God, our families and ourselves to eat properly.

---

Newsletter

Our newsletter is entitled "create a cyan zone" at your home, preserving both yourself, the family and Mother Earth for future generations. We promise not to spam you with daily emails promoting various products. You may get an occasional nudge to buy one of my books.

Here are the back issues.

Did you find this page interesting? How about forwarding it to a friend, or book and food junkie? Better still, a Facebook or Twitter tick would help.

Address:

56 Groenekloof Rd,

Hilton, KZN

South Africa

Website:

https://www.bernard-preston.com

Create a Cyan Zone at your home; one which complements blue areas for longevity with green for protecting Mother Earth.