Vitamin C Info

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is one of the most popular, well known vitamins in the world and deservedly so. It is a water-soluble vitamin that serves the body in many critical areas.

A doctor Shirley S. Lorenzani, Ph.D concurs saying, "It can be said safely that vitamin-C is the most versatile therapeutic agent known to man."

Not only does vitamin C offer therapeutic versatility, but it also helps in many vital functions in the body.

 Its powers have even been discussed in the Ebers Papyrus, one of the world's oldest medical textbooks, dating around 1,550 B.C. Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid as it was found to possess anti-scorbutic properties in preventing scurvy.  

Benefits of Ascorbic Acid

Vitamin C has many benefits. It is famous for being able to limit the damage and suffering of the common cold but this is undoubtedly due to its ability to bolster the immune system for its chief role is that of a potent antioxidant.

Free radicals are oxidizing agents (hence the term anti-oxidant) that are free roaming molecules causing cellular damage.

These free radicals play a prominent role in aging and some researchers believe they are a prime component to the rising of degenerative disease. Vitamin C isn't a wonder drug in the prevention of cancer, but it has been show to have anti-cancer capability.

How? By bolstering the body's natural protective mechanisms, it can help prevent cancer. Dr. Linus Pauling, two-time Nobel Prize winner has said he believes ascorbic acid to be one of the important catalysts for the formation of prostaglandins that are now known to control tumor growth.

Vitamin C also helps in the production of collagen, the key protein found in skin and other connective tissues. It has also been found to give protection against heart disease, the #1 killer in the Western world.

It also has antiviral properties, according to Frederick Klenner, M.D. Klenner claims to have cured many infectious diseases by prescribing liberal amounts of vitamin C.

Some of the diseases Dr. Klenner treated in his 50 years of practicing medicine are:, allergies, asthma, burns, chicken pox, cold sores, hay fever, mumps, mononucleosis, influenza measles, even polio.

Lastly, it also does a wonderful job of helping to detoxify the body-- one of its chief jobs, according to some doctors.

Ascorbic acid or vitamin C foods are, brussel sprouts, guava, horseradish, parsley, broccoli greens, rose hips, oranges, limes, lemons, papaya, strawberries, potatoes, tangerines, grapefruit, lima beans, etc. This list is not exhaustive, but these are all good sources of ascorbic acid.

Precautions

The daily requirements for Vitamin C are as varied as can be. The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) is 60 mg for adults. However, the Harvard Medical School Health Publications' book Vitamins and Minerals advises 100 mg daily for smokers. Still another well regarded advisor, Sheldon Saul Hendler, M.D., Ph.D recommends "a daily intake of 250 milligrams to 1,000 milligrams (1 gram) of vitamin C."

Dr. Linus Pauling, however says, "I recommend between one and ten grams (1,000 to 10,000 mg) or more a day, taken regularly, not stopping ever...20 to 40 grams (20,000 to 40,000 mg) a day may be necessary for some." So, as you can see, even experts' opinions widely vary.

A lot of the amount you take should be determined by your health condition at the time, in our view. Dr. Pauling says taking 10 grams or more a day "is of no known benefit, and may be seriously harmful." With some, too much ascorbic acid in the system can cause cold sores. For others, though, this may not be the case. Those with kidney stones, experts advise, should also avoid taking more than the RDA amount.

Be advised, with most, excessive vitamin-C is excreted out in body waste. Final advise? Talk to you doctor. Remember, vitamin C is very heat sensitive. It's best to get it as raw as possible in vegetable and fruit form, though a scientifically formulated supplement should help.

Choosing Quality Ascorbic Acid

There are a few, vital things you should look for when choosing a vitamin C supplement. These guidelines are also helpful in choosing any supplement for that matter.

1. The supplements should be produced at pharmaceutical standard GMP registered facilities. Facilities that are GMP registered comply with the most rigid standards so as to minimize the possibility of product contaminants. (These are the same standards pharmaceutical companies in the United States are required to operate under as mandated by the FDA.) Nutritional supplements are not regulated by FDA and as such fraud is rampant with many so-called supplements containing contaminants with 1 in 5 not having the ingredients as proclaimed on the label!

2. As mentioned earlier, Vitamin-C works hand-in-hand with Vitamin E. Most vitamins need another mineral or vitamin to work in an optimum fashion. Taking standalone nutrients is ill advised for this very reason. You should ideally take your Vitamin-C supplement as part of a multivitamin, synergistic, scientifically formulated blend.

3. Ideally, make sure the supplement does not contain any fillers or additives such as sucrose (sugar), starch, gluten, silica (sand) or any other artificial colors, dyes, or flavors.

4. Look for enteric coating as this preserves the nutrients in the tablet until they pass through the stomach into the upper intestine where it then dissolves. Most vitamin makers don't do this as it's expensive to do so.

Quality Vitamin C Supplement

I have found a company that meets all the above criteria for our vitamin C supplementation. It is a company based in New Zealand. We mention New Zealand deliberately as their government controls dietary supplementation with strict standards that even surpass the U.S. FDA in quality control. Their flagship vitamin supplement product has vitamin C, vitamin E, as well as herbal extracts, vitamins, minerals, and trace specialty nutrients, and critical enzymes.

I've been using it for a year and have had superb results with better energy and overall health.

Yours in health, hope, and harmony,
Nutritional-Supplement-Bible.com