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We may dislike eating our vegetables, but do you know that vegetables contain numerous amounts of vitamins, especially Vitamin C?
我们可能不喜欢吃蔬菜，但你知道蔬菜含有大量的维生素，特别是维生素C吗？
Not only is it present in fruits and vegetables but also, in meat that we eat.
它不仅存在于水果和蔬菜中，而且存在于我们吃的肉类中。
Most mammals can produce Vitamin C on their own, but we, humans, can't.
大多数哺乳动物都能自己产生维生素C，但我们人类却不能。
The reason why our bodies can’t synthesize Vitamin C is due to lack of an enzyme that catalyzes intermediate metabolites into Vitamin C.
我们的身体不能合成维生素C的原因是缺乏一种能将中间代谢产物催化成维生素C的酶。
The long time mutations accumulated on the gene of the enzyme had caused it to disappear.
这种酶的基因长时间积累的突变，导致它消失了。
Most of us may think of Vitamin C as Citric acid, which is generated during cellular respiration of mammals including humans, but actually, it is not.
我们大多数人可能认为维生素C是柠檬酸，它是包括人类在内的哺乳动物细胞呼吸过程中产生的，但实际上并非如此。
Vitamin C is actually Ascorbic acid.
维生素C实际上是抗坏血酸。
It acts as a coupling factor for an enzyme that synthesizes a component of extracellular matrix, collagen.
它作为一种酶的偶联因子，合成细胞外基质的一种成分-胶原蛋白。
The incorporation of Ascorbic acid with the enzyme, adds hydroxyl group on proline residue in collagen.
抗坏血酸与酶的结合，使胶原中的脯氨酸残基上增加了羟基。
This reaction generates hydroxyproline, which stabilizes the structure of collagen.
这个反应会产生羟脯氨酸，从而稳定胶原蛋白的结构。
The deficiency of Vitamin C can increase the risk of certain diseases, such as scurvy.
缺乏维生素C会增加患某些疾病的风险，如坏血病。
So what is scurvy?
那么什么是坏血症呢？
Scurvy is a condition specific to the deficiency of Ascorbic acid.
坏血病是抗坏血酸缺乏特有的一种情况。
The lack of Vitamin C destabilizes the structure of collagen and affects the integrity of the tissue.
缺乏维生素C会破坏胶原蛋白的结构，影响组织的完整性。
Symptoms include bleeding gums, tooth decay, rough skin, and loss of integrity of microvessels.
症状包括牙龈出血、龋齿、皮肤粗糙和微血管完整性丧失。
Symptoms of scurvy appear within a month, if deficiency is continuous.
如果持续缺乏，一个月之内会出现坏血病的症状。
Did you know, one of the reasons that killed the pirates at the 18th century were not bullets but scurvy?
你知道，18世纪杀死海盗的原因之一不是子弹，而是坏血病吗？
Yes, you heard that right.
是的，你没听错。
Pirates could not rely on the Food Pyramid chart to inform them about their required fruits and vegetables and as a result, they were plagued with scurvy.
海盗不能依靠食物金字塔图来得知他们所需的水果和蔬菜，结果他们患上了坏血病。
Pirates had bleeding gums, their teeth fell out, bones atrophied.
海盗们牙龈流血，牙齿脱落，骨头萎缩。
It was a slow death, say historians.
历史学家说，这是一个缓慢的死亡过程。
Eating citrus fruit would cure them.
吃柑橘类水果就能治愈它们。
Currently, we rarely hear of scurvy but if we observe in developing countries, it still exists.
目前，我们很少听说坏血病，但如果我们观察发展中国家，其实仍然存在。
Extensive cooking of vegetables and meat destroys Vitamin C and thereby, we barely absorb Vitamin C upon consumption.
大量烹调蔬菜和肉类会破坏维生素C，因此，我们在摄入时几乎不能吸收维生素C。
Now you know, why it is important to eat our greens while they are still green.
现在你知道为什么在绿色的时候吃蔬菜很重要了吧。
