Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Why Does the Body Need Vitamin C?

1. It is known as the "Healing Vitamin" and a powerful antioxidant
2. It is antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer
3. It boosts the immune system and fights infections
4. It is one of the building blocks of collagen
5. It protects against cancer and heart disease
6. It turns food into energy
7. It helps to manufacture antistress hormomes
8. It is involved in over 300 metabolic functions including tissue growth and repair
9. Studies show that Asthma sufferers show reduces symptoms when supplementing with Vitamin C
10. It can bind itself to toxins and heavy metals and carry them out of the body. It is often used in chelation therapy to rid the body of mercury
11. It assists in preventing heart disease by lowering cholesterols levels, lowering blood pressure, and preventing atherosclerosis
12. It protects against bruises and abnormal blood clotting and promotes healing of burns and wounds
13. It may reduce the risk of cataracts forming

What are some symptoms of Deficiency of Vitamin C?

Scurvy is, of course, the most commonly recognized disease from a lack of Vitamin, but there are other deficiency symptoms as well:

1. Bleeding or tender gums
2. Bruising easily
3. Edema (water retention)
4. Eye disorders
5. Frequent colds
6. Frequent infections
7. Joint pain
8. Lack of energy
9. Poor digestion
10. Red pimples on the skin
11. Slow healing wounds

Where do you naturally find Vitamin C (in alphabetical order)?
1. Asparagus
2. Avocados
3. Beet greens
4. Berries
5. Black currants
6. Broccoli
7. Brussels sprouts
8. Cabbage
9. Cantaloupe
10. Cauliflower
11. Chili peppers
12. Collards
13. Dandelion greens
14. Dulse (seaweed)
15. Grapefruit
16. Kale
17. Kiwi
18. Lemons
19. Limes
20. Mangoes
21. Melons
22. Mustard greens
23. Oranges
24. Papaya
25. Parsley
26. Peas
27. Persimmons
28. Pineapple
29. Radishes
30. Rose hips
31. Spinach
32. Strawberries
33. Sweet peppers
34. Swiss chard
35. Tomatoes
36. Turnip greens
37. Watercress

Notes and/or Cautions:
Vitamin C is easily damaged by heat and can be depleted by alcohol, stress, pollution, birth control pills, antidepressants, anticoagulants, analgesics, steroids and fried foods. People who smoke cigarettes suffer a serious depletion of Vitamin C. Each cigarette smoked eliminates 25mg of Vitamin C from the body.

Vitamin C may interact with certain Diabetes medications as well as sulfa drugs. Birth control pills may become ineffective if dosages of 10g or more of Vitamin C is consumed daily.

Sperm motility and fertility increase with dosages of 1000mg per day.

Do not take Aspirin and Vitamin C as the same time as it can lead to stomach irritation and potentially ulcers.

Pregnant women should not take more than 5,000mg daily. The developing fetus may become dependent on larges doses of Vitamin C and can potentially develop scurvy after birth when it no longer receives these large amounts.

Fresh squeezed orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, but most store bought juice has been pasteurized which destroys many of the valuable nutrients. Some frozen juice brands are okay if they have been fresh frozen and not pasteurized or processed.

Bioflavinoids, naturally found in fruits and vegetables, assist in the absorption and effectiveness of Vitamin C. It also partners with the B Complex Vitamins to produce energy. It is a more potent antioxidant when taken with Vitamin E. Vitamin C is also better assimilated when combined with a necessary mineral such as Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium or Zinc. In this situation the Vitamin C moves far more quickly into the blood stream and stays in the system longer.

Recommended Dosages for Maintaining Good Health (for Adults):
Vitamin C with mineral ascorbates: 1,000-3,000 mg