Of all the vitamins, nutrients, and supplements out there, the one people probably hear about most often is vitamin C. But what is vitamin C, actually? And why is this simple little nutrient so crucial to maintaining good health?
What is Vitamin C and Ascorbic Acid?
In all our research, we’ve found the Mayo Clinic has one of the best, most precise, and most concise definitions of vitamin C. Quoting their research:
- “Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and collagen in bones. Vitamin C is also vital to your body’s healing process. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the effects of free radicals — molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation from the sun, X-rays, or other sources. Free radicals might play a role in heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb and store iron.”
Unlike most animals’, the human body does not produce vitamin C on its own. That’s why it’s so essential people maintain a diet of vitamin C-rich foods. It’s also a good idea to take vitamin C supplements, particularly if one has a difficult time keeping lots of fruits & vegetables in their diet.
Vitamin C — Frequently Asked Questions
Our team at Immune Solutions participates in farmer’s markets, online sale events, and countless one-on-one interactions with customers. Over the years, we’ve answered thousands of questions from customers who wanted to learn how to live healthy/healthier lives. And while we can’t give medical advice and don’t intend to, here are some of the most common questions we’ve gotten from customers about vitamin C, and our answers to them:
1). Am I getting enough vitamin C?
Recently, we shared some information from the information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding recommended daily dosages for vitamin C. We included the NIH data in last week’s blog post, so we’ll copy that information over here, so you can readily get the data straight from the source. According to the NIH, proper Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) vitamin C dosages (measured in milligrams) are:
- From birth to 6 months old: 40 mg/day.
- For infants 7 to 12 months old: 50 mg/day.
- For children 1 to 3 years old: 15 mg/day.
- For children 4 to 8 years old: 25 mg/day.
- For children 9 to 13 years old: 45 mg/day.
- For teens, 14 to 18 years old (boys): 75 mg/day.
- For teens, 14 to 18 years old (girls): 65 mg/day.
- For adult men: 90 mg/day.
- For adult women: 75 mg/day.
- For pregnant teens: 80 mg/day.
- For pregnant women: 85 mg/day.
- For breastfeeding teens: 115 mg/day.
- For breastfeeding women: 120 mg/day.
2). What foods provide vitamin C?
The best place to get vitamin C naturally is from fruits & vegetables, as all contain some amount. According to MedlinePlus, fruits highest in vitamin C include:
- Cantaloupe
- Orange & Grapefruit (fruits & juices)
- Kiwi fruit
- Mango
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Cranberries
- Watermelon
Vegetables with the highest source of vitamin C include:
- Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and Cauliflower
- Green and Red Peppers
- Spinach, Cabbage, Turnip Greens, and other leafy greens
- Sweet and White Potatoes
- Tomatoes (and Tomato Juice)
- Winter Squash
3). What are the risks of not getting enough vitamin C?
Persons having a limited diet that doesn’t regularly include sufficient fruits & vegetables are likely receiving too little vitamin C (below about 10 mg/day) and, as such, are likely deficient in vitamin C. People who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoking, and persons having certain gastrointestinal conditions or certain types of cancer are even more likely candidates for deficiency. The signs & symptoms of vitamin C deficiency can be quite severe, even leading to the disease condition of scurvy. Symptoms of scurvy include:
- Anemia
- Swollen, bleeding gums
- Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
- Weakened tooth enamel
- Tooth decay
- Teeth falling out
- Decreased ability to fight infection
- Decreased wound-healing rate
- Reduced immune health
- Dry and splitting hair
- Corkscrew hairs
- Large areas of easy bruising
- Skin hemorrhages (bleeding under the skin)
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Nosebleeds
- Possible weight gain due to slowed metabolism
- Small red and/or purple spots on the skin
- Rough, dry, scaly skin
- Swollen, tender, and painful joints
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Eye dryness, irritation, and hemorrhaging in the whites of the eyes (conjunctiva) or optic nerve
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Convulsions
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Mood swings, depression, and delirium
As seen in the above symptoms, scurvy is a severe illness, certainly, but primarily because the condition is fatal if not treated.
4). What are the effects of vitamin C on health?
Much of the positive effects of vitamin C are still being analyzed by scientists, but there is some preliminary data on the additional health benefits of vitamin C.
To get the data straight from the experts, we’ve included a few quotes from the National Institutes of Health:
- “People with high intakes of vitamin C from fruits and vegetables might have a lower risk of getting many types of cancer, such as lung, breast, and colon cancer.”
- “People who eat lots of fruits and vegetables (high in vitamin C) seem to have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers believe that the antioxidant content of these foods might be partly responsible for this association because oxidative damage is a major cause of cardiovascular disease.”
- “Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts are two of the leading causes of vision loss in older people. Researchers do not believe that vitamin C and other antioxidants affect the risk of getting AMD. However, research suggests that vitamin C combined with other nutrients might help slow AMD progression.”
- “People who take vitamin C supplements regularly might have slightly shorter colds or somewhat milder symptoms when they do have a cold.”
5). Is it possible to take too much vitamin C?
It really isn’t easy to consume too much vitamin C. One would have to take more than 2,000 milligrams/day of vitamin C to reach the upper recommended limit for the supplement (for an adult).
Liposomal Vitamin C from Immune Solution
Immune Solution has brought to market the best vitamin C supplement with our proprietary Liposomal Vitamin C product. Liposomal Vitamin C is the most potent, concentrated, and effective vitamin C supplement available. It is much more effective than IV vitamin C, which is, in turn, far more effective than an oral vitamin C tablet or capsule.
By comparison, Liposomal Vitamin C is considered to be 8-10 times more effective than IV Vitamin C, which is considered to be 30-70 times more effective than regular oral Vitamin C. Doing the math, that could make 1 gram of Liposomal C equal to 240-700 grams of regular oral Vitamin C! Rather amazing!
With a boost to immune system function due to its antioxidant benefits, detoxifying effects, and anti-microbial properties, and its collagen & connective tissue repair & regrowth, and its supportive benefits to the cardiovascular system and blood health, Liposomal Vitamin C from Immune Solution is truly the best ascorbic acid supplement you will find. Period.
Click here to order your first bottle of Liposomal Vitamin C!
And if you have any questions about our Liposomal Vitamin C supplement or other holistic health & wellness products and natural remedies, please do not hesitate to reach out! You may call our office line at (727) 768-4688, send us a message using our convenient online contact form, or email directly Jackie Page, the founder of Immune Solution and creator of our products, at JackieHealth@AOL.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Cheers and wellness,
–Ren Brabenec
Immune Solution Writing Staff
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-c/art-20363932
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-Consumer
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002404.htm
