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Grandma's Benefits of Vitamin C
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One of the main benefits of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is that it's an antioxidant and required for tissue growth and repair, adrenal gland function, and healthy gums. It aids in the production of anti-stress hormones and interferon, and is needed for the metabolism of folic acid, tyrosine, and phenylalanine.
Avoid taking the chewable form of Vitamin C. Children are more likely to want a chewable vitamin than adults but chewable Vitamin C will damage tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.
Other benefits of Vitamin C are it protects against the harmful effects of pollution, helps in prevent cancer, protects against infection, and enhances the immune system. It also increases the absorption of iron and also may reduce cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, and prevents against blood clotting and bruising, and promotes healing of wounds and burns.
New evidence indicates that Vitamin C works synergistically with Vitamin E---that is, when these vitamins work together, they have a greater effect than when they work separately.
Vitamin E scavenges for dangerous free radicals in cells membranes, while Vitamin C attacks free radicals in biologic fluids. These vitamins reinforce and extend each other's antioxidant activity.
Because the body cannot manufacture Vitamin C, it must be obtained through diet or in the form of supplements. Unfortunately, most of the benefits of Vitamin C consumed in the diet is lost in the urine.
When larger amounts of Vitamin C are required due to serious illness, such as cancer, it is more effective to take Vitamin C intravenously, under the advisement and supervision of a physician, than it is to take high doses orally.
Scurvy is a disease caused by Vitamin C deficiency. It is characterized by:
- poor wound healing
- soft and spongy bleeding gums
- edema
- extreme weakness
- "pinpoint" hemorrhages under the skin
Fortunately, this condition is rare in Western societies. More common signs of lesser degrees of Vitamin C deficiency include:
- gums that bleed when brushed
- increased susceptibility to infections
- colds and bronchial infections
- joint pains
- lack of energy
- poor digestion
- prolonged healing time
- a tendency to bruise easily
- tooth loss
The Benefits of Ester-C
Esterified Vitamin C
Esterfied Vitamin C (Ester-C) is a remarkable effective form of Vitamin C, especially for those suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer and AIDS.
Please Note: Ester-C is created by having the Vitamin C react with a necessary mineral, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, or zinc. This results in a form of the vitamin that is non-acidic and that contains Vitamin C metabolites identical to those produced by the body.
Esterfied Vitamin C enters the bloodstream and tissues four times faster that standard Vitamin C, moves into the blood cells more efficiently, and also stays in the body tissue longer. The levels of Vitamin C in white blood cells achieved by taking Esterified Vitamin C are four times higher through excretion in the urine.
Natrol produces supplements of Ester-C in combination with other valuable nutrients: one with the antioxidant Pycrogenol and proanthocyanidins; another with the herb Echinacea, and still another with garlic.
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Natural Food Sources of Vitamin C and
Herbal Sources of Vitamin C
Natural benefits of Vitamin C in foods like:
- berries
- citrus fruits
- green vegetables
- asparagus
- avocados
- beet greens
- black currants
- broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- cantaloupe
- collards
- dandelion greens
- dulse (purple algae)
- grapefruit
- kale
- lemons
- lemons
- mangos
- mustard greens
- onions
- oranges
- papayas
- green peas
- sweet peppers
- persimmons
- pineapple
- radishes
- rose hips
- spinach
- strawberries
- Swiss chard
- tomatoes
- turnip greens
- watercress
Finding benefits of Vitamin C in Herbs like:
- alfalfa
- burdock root
- cayenne
- chickweed
- eyebright
- fennel seed
- fenugreek
- hops
- horsetail
- kelp
- peppermint
- mullein
- nettle
- oat straw
- paprika
- parsley
- pine needle
- plantain
- raspberry leaf
- red clover
- rose hips
- skullcap
- violet leaves
- yarrow
- yellow dock
Comments
Alcohol, analgesics, antidepressants, anticoagulants, oral contraceptives, and steroids may reduce level of Vitamin C in the body. Smoking caused a serious depletion of Vitamin C. Diabetes medication such as chlorpropamide (Diabinese) and sulfa drugs may not be as effective when taken with Vitamin C. Taking high doses of Vitamin C may cause false negative reading in tests of blood in the stool.
For maximum effectiveness, supplemental Vitamin C should be taken in divided doses, twice daily.
Cautions
If aspirin and standard Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) are taken together in large doses, stomach irritation can occur, possibly leading to ulcers. If you take aspirin regularly, use an Esterfied form of Vitamin C (see above for Ester-C).
If you are pregnant, do not take more than 50,000 milligrams of Vitamin C daily. Infants may become dependent on this supplement and develop scurvy when deprived of the accustomed mega-doses after birth.
Avoid using chewable Vitamin C supplements, as these can damage tooth enamel.
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