Table of Contents
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