Vitamin C is a water-soluble essential nutrient that must be obtained from the diet or from supplements because the body cannot manufacture it. It is a sensitive nutrient that can be easily destroyed by heat and improper handling of food. Emotional and physical stress, such as smoking, high environmental pollutants, illness, surgery, injuries, infections and use of contraceptive pills all deplete the body of vitamin C. It is an important supplementation for good health, especially when the dietary intakes are low.