Vitamin C

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About Vitamin C

Also known as: Ester C, Ascorbic Acid, Rose Hips, Acerola, Bioflavonoids

Signs of Vitamin C Deficiency:

  • Asthma
  • Bleeding gums
  • Bruising
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Hysteria
  • Increased susceptibility to infection, especially colds and bronchial infections
  • Joint pains
  • Poor digestion
  • Prolonged healing time
  • Scurvy
  • Tooth loss

Health Concerns – Vitamin C is used for:

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Capillary fragility
  • Cervical dysplasia
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Gingivitis
  • Glaucoma
  • Hepatitis
  • Hives
  • Infertility
  • Macular degeneration
  • Mitral valve prolapse
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Periodontal disease
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Preeclampsia
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Skin ulcers
  • Sports injuries

What Vitamin C Does:

  • Acts as a natural antihistamine
  • Aids in adrenal gland function
  • Aids in the production of anti-stress hormones and interferon
  • Antioxidant required for tissue growth and repair
  • Boosts immunity and reduces the duration of colds and other viruses
  • Essential in the formation of collagen
  • Good in treating candida
  • Good in treating gallbladder disease
  • Good in the treatment of diabetes
  • Helpful in auto-immune disorders
  • Helpful in treating Herpes simplex and Herpes zoster
  • Helpful in treating symptoms of menopause
  • Helps maintenance of good vision, and lower risk of cataracts
  • Helps recycle the antioxidant Vitamin E
  • Increases the absorption of iron
  • Maintains healthy bones, teeth, and gums
  • Maintains healthy sex organs
  • May reduce cholesterol levels
  • May reduce high blood pressure
  • Needed for the metabolism of folic acid, tyrosine, and phenylalanine
  • Promotes energy
  • Promotes the healing of wounds and burns
  • Protects against blood clotting
  • Protects against cancer
  • Protects against infection and enhances immunity
  • Protects against the harmful effects of pollution
  • Useful in treating Crohn’s disease
  • Useful in skin disorders, including eczema, hives and skin ulcers
  • Useful in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
  • Useful in the treatment of peptic ulcers

FOOD SOURCES of Vitamin C:

  • Asparagus
  • Avocados
  • Beet greens
  • Black currants
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Buckwheat (rutin)
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cauliflower
  • Citrus fruits
  • Collards
  • Dulse
  • Fresh fruits
  • Fresh vegetables
  • Guavas
  • Green peas
  • Kale
  • Lemon juice
  • Mangos
  • Mustard greens
  • Onions
  • Oranges & juice
  • Papayas
  • Peppers, red chili
  • Persimmons
  • Pineapple
  • Potatoes
  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries
  • Sweet peppers
  • Swiss chard
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnip greens
  • Watercress

Herb Sources for Vitamin C:

  • Acerola berries
  • Alfalfa
  • Aloe vera juice
  • Burdock root
  • Cayenne
  • Chickweed
  • Dandelion greens
  • Eyebright
  • Fennel seed
  • Fenugreek
  • Hops
  • Horseradish
  • Horsetail
  • Kelp
  • Mullein
  • Nettle
  • Oat straw
  • Paprika
  • Parsley
  • Peppermint
  • Pine needle
  • Plantain
  • Raspberry
  • Red Clover
  • Rosehips
  • Scullcap
  • Senna leaf
  • Violet leaves
  • Yarrow
  • Yellow dock

Other Sources – Brand Names for Vitamin C:

  • Ester C is a buffered Vitamin C that won’t hurt your stomach
  • Ascorbic Acid is synthetic man-made vitamin C and only contains one molecule (natural vitamin C has 4 molecules in it) I would not recommend this form.
  • Rose Hips is made from rose hips and is very high in Vitamin C. Many herbal teas have Rose Hips in them.
  • Acerola is a safe and bioavailable form of vitamin C often coming in chewable tablets
  • Bioflavonoids is a Vitamin C made from citrus fruits. Both orange and lemon peel are common.
  • Rutin comes from the whites of citrus fruits and it is also high in buckwheat
  • Lemon bioflavonoid
  • Rutin bioflavonoid
  • Emergen C by Alacer is a powdered form of several types of vitamin C’s but it contains tartaric acid in it which does not work well with Blood type O people
  • Cataplex C is made from Standard Process and is a whole-food bioavailable Vitamin C
  • Cataplex ACP is a combination of Vitamins A, C, and P
  • Vitamin C powder is often an ascorbate of C which is not as easily assimilated by the body. This one  is commonly used in homemade dog and cat diets, so watch the label and get a natural Vitamin C instead.
  • Other Standard Process C-Containing Products include: Collagen C, Cataplex A-C, Cataplex A-C-P, Congaplex, Immuplex, Cyruta and Cyruta Plus.

Cautions & Comments about Vitamin C (Ester C, Ascorbic Acid, Rose Hips, Acerola, Bioflavonoids)

  • Alcohol, analgesics, antidepressants, anticoagulants, oral contraceptives, Smoking and steroids may reduce levels of vitamin C in the body.
  • Avoid using chewable Vitamin C supplements, as they can damage tooth enamel
  • Drug Interactions: Diabetes medications such as chlorpropamide (Diabinese) and sulfa drugs may not be as effective when taken with Vitamin C.
  • High levels of Vitamin C can deplete the body of copper
  • 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 esterified form of Vitamin C (Ester C)
  • If you are pregnant, do not take more than 5,000 milligrams of Vitamin C daily. Infants may become dependent on this supplement and develop scurvy when deprived of the accustomed megadoses after birth.
  • Large doses of Vitamin C may cause kidney stones and gout in some individuals
  • Smoking causes a serious depletion of Vitamin C
  • Some people suffer from diarrhea and cramps at high dosages, although it is considered to be nontoxic at even very high levels
  • Taking high doses of Vitamin C may cause a false-negative reading in tests for blood in the stool
  • The body cannot manufacture Vitamin C; it must be obtained through the diet or in the form of supplements
  • Some people are allergic to certain Vitamin C supplements