Why Vitamin C Matters
You already know vitamin Ca.k.a. ascorbic acidis key for healthy immune function.
However, its also important for: fighting free radical damage and improving absorption of other nutrients .
Plus, its also key for collagen production, which is essential for connective tissue health and wound healing.
C also offers cardiovascular benefits: Vitamin C also supports healthy blood pressure and artery health, and increases blood flow to the brain, adds Anthony Balduzzi, N.M.D., founder of The Fit Father Project and The Fit Mother Project.
And thats not all: High vitamin C intake is also associated with more youthful-looking skin and improved bone health in older populations.
On the flipside, low intake has been linked with low bone mineral density and even obesity.
Can You Still Use Vitamin C If It Turns Your Skin Yellow
You can still use it if you want, but it won’t work very well on your skin, and “very rarely, foods containing oxidized vitamin C can even cause a slight yellowing of the skin,” the doctor says. hogan.. So be sure to throw out any vitamin C products that have drastically changed color since purchase.
About Liposomal Vitamin C
Vitamin C, or Ascorbic acid is one of the many vitamins needed daily for optimal health. We can obtain it from food such as fruits or vegetables, or supplements as humans are unable to produce Vitamin C themselves in the body.
According to Dietary Reference Intakes developed by the Food and Nutrition Board, the recommended vitamin C intake for normal adult men and women are 90mg and 75mg respectively.
The absorption rate of regular vitamin C is lower because water-soluble vitamin C can only be found in water-based compartments in our body such as blood and cannot diffuse into fatty tissues.
This is where liposomal vitamin C comes in handy by improving the overall absorption rate of Vitamin C.
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Could Your Child Have Too Much Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin which means that if your child has too much they usually just wee it out. That being said, high doses of supplements can definitely cause problems. The most common is tummy pains and diarrhoea but it can also cause kidney stones. The upper tolerable limit in the chart below is the maximum dose that children seem to be able to tolerate before side effects and complications. Be aware though that this is only a guide and children can have bad effects on smaller doses or even tolerate higher doses that may have been prescribed. Its always best to start on a low dose and slowly work up under the care of your healthcare provider.
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Oxygen Is The Breath Of Life But It Also Holds The Potential To Make Us Old Decrepit And Then Dead
In order to regain stability, free radicals wreak havoc on the structures around them, ripping electrons from vital molecules such as DNA and proteins in order to balance its own charge. Although inconceivably small in scale, the production of free radicals, Harman and many others posited, would gradually take its toll on our entire bodies, causing mutations that can lead to ageing and age-related diseases such as cancer.
In short, oxygen is the breath of life, but it also holds the potential to make us old, decrepit, and then dead.
Clinical trials are the only ways to reveal the effects of a drug – and investigations into antioxidants have produced some shocking results
Shortly after free radicals were linked to ageing and disease, they were seen as enemies that should be purged from our bodies. In 1972, for example, Harman wrote, Decreasing in an organism might be expected to result in a decreased rate of biological degradation with an accompanying increase in the years of useful, healthy life. It is hoped that will lead to fruitful experiments directed toward increasing the healthy human lifespan.
He was talking about antioxidants, molecules that accept electrons from free radicals thereby diffusing the threat. And the experiments he hoped for were sown, nurtured, and replicated over the next few decades. But they bore little fruit.
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More Benefits Of Vitamin C
Did you know that vitamin C does more than boost the immune system? Your body needs vitamin C to produce collagen , help the brain transmit messages properly, as well as help the body absorb iron. The antioxidants in vitamin C help the body fight certain cancers, along with aiding in wound care.
Repeat after me: I promise to make sure my diet has enough vitamin C every day!
Dietary Sources Of Iron
While taking iron supplements is one way to treat IDA, including food sources of iron in your diet can also help you meet your needs.
There are two main types of iron that come from your diet:
- Heme iron is found in foods like beef and seafood options
- Non-heme iron is found in foods like vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Certain foods are also fortified with non-heme iron.
Heme iron appears to be better absorbed in the body than non-heme iron. Taking vitamin C with non-heme sources of iron may help maximize iron absorption with little risk.
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How Much Vitamin C Should You Take
Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient with many vital functions in your body.
It helps strengthen your immune system, aids collagen production and wound healing, and acts as an antioxidant to protect your cells from free radical damage .
Vitamin C is also known as L-ascorbic acid, or simply ascorbic acid.
Unlike other animals, humans cannot synthesize vitamin C on their own. Therefore, you must get enough of it from foods or supplements to maintain good health (
Possible Interactions With: Vitamin C
If you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use vitamin C supplements without first talking to your health care provider.
Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — Both aspirin and NSAIDs can lower the amount of vitamin C in the body because they cause more of the vitamin to be lost in urine. In addition, high doses of vitamin C can cause more of these drugs to stay in the body, raising the levels in your blood. Some very early research suggests that vitamin C might help protect against stomach upset that aspirin and NSAIDs can cause. If you regularly take aspirin or NSAIDs, talk to your doctor before taking more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.
Acetaminophen — High doses of vitamin C may lower the amount of acetaminophen passed in urine, which could cause the levels of this drug in your blood to rise.
Aluminum-containing antacids — Vitamin C can increase the amount of aluminum your body absorbs, which could cause the side effects of these medications to be worse. Aluminum-containing antacids include Maalox and Gaviscon.
Barbiturates — Barbiturates may decrease the effects of vitamin C. These drugs include phenobarbital , pentobarbital , and seconobarbital .
Protease inhibitors — Vitamin C appears to slightly lower levels of indinavir , a medication used to treat HIV and AIDS.
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Continue Learning About Vitamins
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Does Vitamin C Really Do Anything For Men
Your body does not make vitamin C, but it does need it for immune function, bone structure, iron absorption and healthy skin. They get their vitamin C from food, mainly citrus fruits, strawberries, vegetables and tomatoes. The recommended daily allowance is 90 milligrams for men and 75 mg per day for women.
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How Should I Take Ascorbic Acid
Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin C increases with age. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions. You may also consult the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database listings for more information.
Drink plenty of liquids while you are taking ascorbic acid.
The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.
Ascorbic acid gum may be chewed as long as desired and then thrown away.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole.
Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Keep the orally disintegrating tablet in the package until you are ready to take it. Use dry hands to remove the tablet and place it in your mouth. Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves.
Store ascorbic acid at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
The Wrong Way To Take Vitamin C
Most of us are aware of the importance of vitamin C this powerful vitamin provides the body with many important health benefits in order to function optimally. It can help ward off disease, boost the immune system, and more.
Youve probably heard the stories about how gold miners during the gold rush days suffered from scurvy due to a lack of sufficient variety in their diet, including vitamin C. It was also often the result of long sea voyages in which sailors didnt bring enough nutrient rich foods with them.
Scurvy can cause hair loss, gum disease, tooth loss, anxiety and ultimately death if not treated. While it is rare these days, the effects of scurvy highlight the importance of this essential vitamin. As vitamin C is anti-inflammatory, it can help battle free radicals that are caused by toxins, stress, radiation and inflammatory response, causing damage to the bodys cells.
The best way to get your vitamin C is to eat a healthy diet that includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that cooking or processing can deplete some of the vitamin C that the body can process, which is why many people choose to take a supplement.
This is where the confusion comes in are you taking this potent antioxidant the wrong way? Here is some advice on how to and how not to take vitamin C:
Your maximum daily amount may be considerably higher than this .
Taking your dose of vitamin C right before a meal and bedtime is considered optimal.
-The Alternative Daily
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We Are In A Constant State Of Learning Arent We
I think I have learned more in my years after schooling and college than I ever did in formal education. Its always good to be learning, reading, and growing.
Especially with regards to optimal health, it is really important to stay on top of things. I recently started working with a nutritional therapist for some adrenal issues I have had since having my last baby, and we had a really great conversation about vitamin C.
Is Vitamin E Actually Good For My Skin
Vitamin E is often used to soften and moisturize the skin, it can soothe burns and it can even be smoothed over stretch marks and scars to reduce their appearance. Use vitamin E oil daily to smooth your skin and keep it looking healthy and youthful. This could be a better treatment than expensive department store anti-aging creams.
Best collagen supplement for sagging skin
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Why Getting Vitamin C Through Your Diet Is Important
Vitamin C is an important nutrient for your body since it:
- Acts as an antioxidant
- Supports your immune system
In addition, vitamin C is thought to have beneficial effects on your overall health, including reducing your risk of cancer, heart disease and the most common causes of vision loss .
While vitamin C is an important nutrient, your body doesn’t actually make it so it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C from your diet.
The amount you need depends on your age and gender, but, in general, adults should aim to get between 65 to 90 mg of vitamin C per day. You can get all the vitamin C you need by drinking a glass of orange juice or eating a cup of strawberries, bell pepper, broccoli, Brussels sprouts or kale. In addition, some of the herbs you commonly cook with also contain significant amounts of vitamin C, including thyme and parsley.
Another reason to get the recommended amount of vitamin C through your diet, rather than a supplement, is that healthy, whole foods also contain other beneficial vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.
Most people following a healthy diet have no problem getting the recommended amount of vitamin C every day. However, if you think you aren’t, you can always consider taking a multivitamin as most contain the recommended amount of vitamin C you need every day.
Heart Disease And Cancer
Research suggests that vitamin C may help prevent heart disease and cancer.
Antioxidants like vitamin C do seem to reduce the oxidative stress associated with these diseases. This can happen when there are too many free radicals in your body.
A 2013 review found that vitamin C may help prevent stroke. This was mostly true for people who had low intake of vitamin C before treatment or were at high risk for stroke.
The review only found this benefit for vitamin C from food sources, not from supplements.
A 2013 review noted that high intake of vitamin C does seem to be associated with a lower risk of certain cancers. It also noted that intravenous vitamin C has been shown to improve outcomes for cancer patients.
Many experimental cancer therapies include using vitamin C along with other treatments, however. This makes it hard to know how much of an impact vitamin C has on its own.
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Why Should You Take Vitamin D3
Why should you take vitamin d3? Recap. Vitamin D is important for bone and muscle strength. It increases bone density and muscle mass. Low vitamin D puts you at risk for osteoporosis and other problems tied to weak bones.
Is it good to take vitamin D3 everyday? Most experts recommend that you shouldnt take more than 4,000 IU of vitamin D a day. When your serum D3 is very low , some may recommend a short course of once-weekly 50,000 IU of vitamin D2 or D3, followed by a usual dose of 600 to 800 IU daily.
Is there a difference between vitamin D and vitamin D3? There are two possible forms of vitamin D in the human body: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Both D2 and D3 are simply called vitamin D, so theres no meaningful difference between vitamin D3 and just vitamin D.
Are vitamins C and D fat soluble? Vitamins are classified as either fat soluble or water soluble . This difference between the two groups is very important. It determines how each vitamin acts within the body. The fat soluble vitamins are soluble in lipids .
Can Taking Vitamin C Prevent A Cold
Theres been a lot of debate about if vitamin C helps prevent the common cold. Its a topic that has been extensively researched, and theres some evidence that vitamin C may reduce how long your cold may last, says Dr. Radhakrishnan. But he says taking vitamin C on a regular basis doesnt reduce how often youll get a cold or how severe it will be.
Although the medical evidence is not overwhelming, this vitamin may help reduce the duration of common cold, Dr. Radhakrishnan concludes. This is why some healthcare professionals recommend vitamin C for the common cold.
Given how safe and relatively inexpensive vitamin C is, it may be alright to give your child a short course of vitamin C during a cold but this should be discussed with your childs physician, he says.
Like your mom always said, an apple a day keeps the doctor away!
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Getting Your Vitamin C
Vitamin C deficiency can result in iron deficiency, due to reduced iron absorption. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin C is 90 milligrams daily for men and 75 milligrams for women. All fruits and vegetables are sources of vitamin C. Some of the most potent fruit sources include citrus, cantaloupe, kiwi, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, watermelons and berries. Vegetables with a high vitamin C content include green vegetables, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, red bell peppers and winter squash.
So Should I Take Vitamin C In The Morning Or At Night
Your choice! There is no right or wrong answer to this question. The time you choose will depend on what works best for your body and when its most convenient for you.
Taking the vitamin C in the morning may be better if youre looking to prevent sickness, but an afternoon dose could help keep a cold at bay longer, while taking one before bed might improve sleep quality .
Plus there are many other factors that affect how long a virus lasts in our bodies so we cant say definitively which time of day would work best. But ultimately it comes down to personal preference!
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