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 candidiasis

• 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 (these are in my Barfy Green Stuff formula)

• 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.

   

  Which Supplement is Best for Me?

  My Favorite Liquid Mineral        Supplements I personally take

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

• Alcohol, analgesics, antidepressants, anticoagulants, oral contraceptives, 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