How Much Vitamin C Per Day For Adults

How Much Vitamin C Is In An Orange

While you might typically turn to oranges as your go-to Vitamin C food source, you can get this immune-supporting nutrient in other fruits and vegetables, too. For example, take a look at these Vitamin C-rich food sources:3,

• Sweet Yellow Peppers : 137 mg
• Guava : 126 mg
• Kale : 80 mg
• Kiwi : 71 mg
• Broccoli : 51 mg
• Brussels Sprouts : 49 mg
• Lemons : 83 mg
• Papaya : 87 mg
• Strawberries : 89 mg
• Orange : 70 mg

Tip: Did you know that excessive heat can destroy Vitamin C in food? To get as much Vitamin C from these foods as possible, eat them raw or lightly cooked. Try cooking them for shorter periods of time, preferably through steaming or microwaving, which limits the loss of nutrients in the cooking process.4

Realistically, if you eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, you probably get enough Vitamin C in your daily diet. However, if you dont consume these types of foods every day, a Vitamin C supplement can be helpful.

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How Much Vitamin C Per Day Should You Take

The recommended daily allowance for vitamin C is 75mg for adult females and 90mg for adult males. However, there are certain conditions and scenarios when more vitamin C is recommended.

To boost immunity – One study found that taking 1 to 2 grams of vitamin C daily while sick shortened the duration of illness. Taking a higher dose has also been shown to potentially prevent more severe infections such as pneumonia.

To support healthy skin – The RDA is typically enough to support overall skin health and collagen production. However, some studies suggest that supplementation of up to 250mg per day is best to support wound healing.

Pregnant women – Recommended intake is 85mg per day to support moms needs and the babys development.

People who smoke – Generally, its recommended to add 35mg to the RDA per day, as people who smoke are already at higher risk for infection and cell damage.

People with iron deficiency – If youre iron deficient, you may be advised to take additional vitamin C to help with iron absorption. In fact, one study found that combining 100mg of vitamin C with an iron-rich meal increased iron absorption by 67 percent.

Should I Take More Vitamin C When Im Sick

Many people pop vitamin C pills when they feel a cold coming on. Though vitamin C helps the immune system, it does very little for a cold.

A study from the Australian National University found that vitamin C supplements did not prevent colds at all. Supplementation, in a few cases, helped people get over the cold a little bit faster since about 8 percent of participants had one less day of sickness due to vitamin C.

If you want to play it safe and add more vitamin C when youre sick, its still best to do it through food. Add more citrus or greens. Even if the vitamin C doesnt make a difference, the healthy food will help you feel better.

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Vitamins And Minerals For Older Adults

Vitamins help your body grow and work the way it should. There are 13 essential vitamins vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins .

Vitamins have different jobs to help keep the body working properly. Some vitamins help you resist infections and keep your nerves healthy, while others may help your body get energy from food or help your blood clot properly. By following the Dietary Guidelines, you will get enough of most of these vitamins from food.

Like vitamins, minerals also help your body function. Minerals are elements that our bodies need to function that can be found on the earth and in foods. Some minerals, like iodine and fluoride, are only needed in very small quantities. Others, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, are needed in larger amounts. As with vitamins, if you eat a varied diet, you will probably get enough of most minerals.

How To Take It

The best way to take vitamin C supplements is 2 – 3 times per day, with meals, depending on the dosage. Some studies suggest that adults should take 250 – 500 mg twice a day for any benefit. Talk to your doctor before taking more than 1,000 mg of vitamin C on a daily basis and before giving vitamin C to a child.

Daily intake of dietary vitamin C is listed below.

Pediatric

• Men over 18 years: 90 mg
• Women over 18 years: 75 mg
• Pregnant women 14 – 18 years: 80 mg
• Pregnant women over 18 years: 85 mg
• Breastfeeding women 14 – 18 years: 115 mg
• Breastfeeding women over 18 years: 120 mg

Because smoking depletes vitamin C, people who smoke may need an additional 35 mg per day.

The dose recommended to prevent or treat many of the conditions mentioned in the Uses section is often 500 – 1,000 mg per day.

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Common Nutrient Deficiencies: Know The Signs

Severe vitamin C deficiency may bring about scurvy, a condition that includes symptoms ranging from fatigue to depression, joint pain, poor wound healing, and bleeding gums. Though serious, scurvy and even vitamin C deficiency are rare in developed countries. Theres one exception: Smokers have a more-than-threefold-greater risk of vitamin C deficiency, according to research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This is likely because smoking causes greater vitamin C turnover in the body. Cigarette smoking increases free radicals in the body, which damages our cells antioxidants such as vitamin C counteract this damage but are depleted more quickly in people who smoke.

Is Taking A Huge Dose Of Vitamin C Bad For Me

Vitamin C is an important nutrient, but as the old saying goes too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

After taking too much vitamin C, you may experience symptoms such as:

• Diarrhea

So how much vitamin C is too much?

For adults, the daily upper limit of vitamin C is 2,000 mg. For teens, it’s 1,800 mg. For children, the upper limit depends on age, and it ranges from 400 to 1,200 mg per day.

In addition, vitamin C is water-soluble, making it hard for your body to store it with excess being secreted in your urine. So even if you’re adult and can handle the 1,000 mg in each vitamin C packet or pill, just know that your body can’t absorb more than about 400 mg. This means that most of the vitamin C in that supplement you’re taking just goes down your toilet .

All this to say, however, that getting the recommended amount of vitamin C is still a critical step in staying healthy, as this vitamin plays many important roles in your body. But, you don’t need to take a supplement to make that happen.

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What Are The Preferred Sources Of Vitamin C

There is no reason to take vitamin supplements if you eat a healthy whole food plant-based diet. Vegetables and fruits are good sources of vitamin C. You can see analytically the list with the richest foods in vitamin C here. For instance, kale, broccoli, or peppers are particularly high in vitamin C.

What Dosage Of Vitamin C Is Too Much Anyway

According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin C has low toxicity and its rather unusual to cause serious adverse effects. Even at high intakes. The maximum dosage of vitamin C for adults is 2,000 mg daily.

Better consult your doctor before taking any supplements. Especially if youre taking other medication. Vitamin C supplements may interact with other drugs.

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Which Foods Are Best For Vitamin C

Most fruits and vegetables contain some vitamin C however, certain varieties are particularly valuable sources of the nutrient. These are:

Vegetables: Peppers, tomatoes, potatoes , and green vegetables such as broccoli and brussels sprouts.

Fruit: Oranges and orange juice, other citrus fruits, strawberries, and blackcurrants.

Its important to be aware that processing and/or cooking can reduce or destroy the vitamin C in a food. Boiling vegetables is especially harmful. So try light cooking and eating some of your fruit and veg raw for optimum vitamin C levels.

Homemade Vitamin C Gummies

Im all for supporting my immune system, and these delicious, homemade vitamin C gummies are a super helpful way to ward off the common cold. They also give you an awesome citrusy burst of energy to start your day, something a busy mom like myself can certainly appreciate!

I am a big fan of gummy candies but not so much a fan of all the artificial colors, flavors and who knows what else found in the gummies you find in stores. I figured, why not make my own homemade gummies?

These DIY gummies are truly easy to make and feature some really healthy ingredients to help deliver that burst of vitamin C that your body craves.

I always make a batch of these vitamin C gummies when Im fighting a sinus infection. Ive actually put a lot of thought into home remedies for sinus infection. Dont miss my post on the subject!

This homemade gummies recipe features fresh citrus juice thats loaded with immune supporting vitamin C as well as raw honey which is quite healthful as well.

Raw honey is loaded with substances that are healthy for the human body. Raw honey is chock full of-of the B-complex, A, C, D, E, and K, minerals and trace elements: magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, calcium, chlorine, potassium, iodine, sodium, copper, and manganese. The live enzyme content of raw honey is one of the highest of all foods, and its even antimicrobial and antibacterial.

Basically, raw honey is good stuff, and tasty to boot!

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What Is Emergen C

I use Emergen C in my Vitamin C smoothie recipe because it makes it easy to get the right amount. They are small packets to add to water with vitamins and minerals to support your immune system.

I use the Super Orange original Emergen C, but they have several other flavors. You could make an Emergen C smoothie recipe with coconut pineapple, cranberry pomegranate, lemon lime, raspberry, pink lemonade, strawberry kiwi, or tangerine.

You would use the same immune booster smoothie recipe and use different fruits.

I like using Emergen C to support my immune system, but I’m not crazy about the taste. I’ll drink it when I need to, but this Emergen C smoothie recipe tastes better than using the packet in water.

Emergen C is for kids 14 years old and older and adults. Two of mine are over 14, so they can drink the a vitamin C smoothie recipe.

I can’t get them to drink the powder in water, but they will happily drink an Emergen C smoothie recipe.

Each Emergen C packet has 1000 mg of vitamin C, so don’t drink all of this Vitamin C smoothie recipe at once. Save half for the following day.

Emergen C is getting harder to find. I linked to Amazon, but iHerb also carries it. You can get free shipping at only $20 at iHerb.

Does Taking Vitamin C Help To Prevent Colds

Studies have shown that taking vitamin C does not help to prevent colds.

In a systematicreview, taking a daily dose of vitamin C was not shown to decrease the likelihood of getting sick with an upper respiratory infection . Commonly used over-the-counter vitamin C products like Emergen-C and Airborne have 1 gram of vitamin C per packet or tablet. It doesnt appear they prevent you from getting sick.

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Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

• Life with Cancer

Abdollahzad, H., Eghtesadi, S., Nourmohammadi, I., Khadem-Ansari, M., Nejad-Gashti, H., and Esmaillzadeh, A. Effect of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative stress and lipid profiles in hemodialysis patients. Int J Vitam.Nutr Res 2009 79:281-287. View abstract.

Adams, J. B. and Holloway, C. Pilot study of a moderate dose multivitamin/mineral supplement for children with autistic spectrum disorder. J Altern Complement Med 2004 10:1033-1039. View abstract.

Ajayi, O. A., Okike, O. C., and Yusuf, Y. Haematological response to supplements of riboflavin and ascorbic acid in Nigerian young adults. Eur.J Haematol. 1990 44:209-212. View abstract.

Albanes, D., Malila, N., Taylor, P. R., Huttunen, J. K., Virtamo, J., Edwards, B. K., Rautalahti, M., Hartman, A. M., Barrett, M. J., Pietinen, P., Hartman, T. J., Sipponen, P., Lewin, K., Teerenhovi, L., Hietanen, P., Tangrea, J. A., Virtanen, M., and Heinonen, O. P. Effects of supplemental alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene on colorectal cancer: results from a controlled trial . Cancer Causes Control 2000 11:197-205. View abstract.

Ali, S. M. and Chakraborty, S. K. Role of plasma ascorbate in diabetic microangiopathy. Bangladesh Med Res Counc.Bull. 1989 15:47-59. View abstract.

Almendingen, K., Hofstad, B., and Vatn, M. H. Dietary habits and growth and recurrence of colorectal adenomas: results from a three-year endoscopic follow-up study. Nutr Cancer 2004 49:131-138. View abstract.

Is It Ok To Take 1000 Milligrams Of Vitamin C Daily

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Your body needs vitamin C in order to heal skin wounds, build strong bones and teeth and synthesize the collagen needed for making cartilage and blood vessels. As an antioxidant, vitamin C may also lower your risk of cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and age-related macular degeneration. It’s best to fulfill your vitamin C requirement with fresh fruits and vegetables, says the Linus Pauling Institute, though some people may benefit from supplementation. Vitamin C supplements are available in liquid, tablet, powdered and capsule form. Do not begin using vitamin C supplements until you’ve first talked to your doctor.

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Bone And Muscle Health

Because it plays a crucial role in the production of the structural protein collagen, vitamin C is an important nutrient for your bones.

What’s more, an August 2020 study in The Journal of Nutrition looked at data from over 13,000 older adults and found a link between low vitamin C levels and lower skeletal muscle mass as we age, suggesting that C can help preserve muscle mass.

Whats The Recommended Daily Intake Of Vitamin C

The recommended daily intake of vitamin C is 75 90 mg. Its 70 mg for women and 90 mg for men.

Moreover, smokers need more vitamin C per day. They need additionally 35 mg of vitamin C a day, as smokers have increased oxidative stress. A study suggested that drinking orange juice can increase plasma concentrations of vitamin C in humans. Smokers can benefit the most.

Additionally, women in pregnancy require at least 85 mg of vitamin C. Furthermore, women in lactation require at least 120 mg. Always consult your health care provider before taking any supplements.

So, the maximum recommended vitamin C dose of 120 mg is way less than the dose of a 1,000 mg pill. Is a daily consumption of 1,000 mg of vitamin C safe? Pretty safe actually

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How Can I Get The Vitamins And Minerals I Need

It is usually better to get the nutrients you need from food, rather than a pill. Thats because nutrient-dense foods contain other things that are good for you, like fiber.

Most older people can get all the nutrients they need from foods. But if you arent sure, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian to find out if you are missing any important vitamins or minerals. He or she may recommend a vitamin or dietary supplement.

If you do need to supplement your diet, look for a supplement that contains the vitamin or mineral you need without a lot of other unnecessary ingredients. Read the label to make sure the dose is not too large. Avoid supplements with mega-doses. Too much of some vitamins and minerals can be harmful, and you might be paying for supplements you dont need. Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend brands that fit your needs.

Effects Of Mega Doses Of Vitamin C

According to a study, researchers have treated cancer patients with high dosages of vitamin C, through IVC therapy . Scientists gave cancer patients up to 100g of vitamin C a day! Thats 100,000 mg. 100 times more vitamin C than a dosage of 1,000 mg or 100,000 times the recommended daily intake of vitamin C Thats a huge dose. So, what happened to these patients?

Regarding cancer, researchers observed:

• improvement in the quality of life,
• improved tolerance of conventional therapy,
• deterioration in clinical condition, in the absence of vitamin C dosage.

The side effects of mega dosages of vitamin C seem to be minimal, though. Patients experienced symptoms of Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. This is a reaction of the body to endotoxins produced by the necrosis of harmful cells. Fever, chills, strong body odor, and pimples may be other side effects.

Dont forget that these side effects happened to cancer patients, after megadoses of vitamin C. Symptoms resolved after 2 to 3 hours, after injection with vitamin C.

On the other hand, therapy with high dosages of vitamin C may:

• stabilize cancer,
• have anti tumor activity in some cases,
• help patients regain strength, even walking again

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The Best Molds For Homemade Gummy Vitamins

Part of the fun and appeal of these gummies is the gummy bear shape! I found this silicone gummy bear mold and it works perfectly. The set comes with three gummy bear trays, and three eyedroppers so that filling is easy. This recipe will fill all three trays exactly so it’s the perfect size. Note: you can purchase the molds here.