Don’t Be Fooled By Vitamin C

Do you know that not everything that is labeled Vitamin C is actually good for you? Most products in grocery stores and even health food stores that are sold as Vitamin C may not give you many benefits at all. The reason for that is that they are not made of whole foods but the isolated nutrient ascorbic acid.

Vitamin C is contained in food in form of ascorbic acid. However, in nature it does not appear as an isolated nutrient, but in combination with other nutrients that work synergistically. Isolated nutrients are not worth much. As a matter of fact, they may in large amounts even be dangerous.

Whenever a nutrient gets extracted from a wholesome food, it is much like taking a good player out of a team and then expecting him to play and win the same way as he would within a team. No one would do that in sports as everybody knows, no matter how good the player may be, he still needs the rest of the team to bring forth his full potential. But “smart” people do that with food. Go figure.

The ascorbic acid found in most Vitamin C products is a synthetic derivative of corn syrup. Ascorbic acid is an antioxidant. It is commonly used as a natural preservative of many foods, which is perfectly fine. However, ascorbic acid alone has only the function of a protective coating, much like the shell of an egg. Unfortunately, since it is deprived of all other nutrients, your body won’t be able to benefit much from it.

Some supplements are “enhanced” with whole food nutrients like bioflavonoides, acerola cherry or rose hips. Though this certainly helps your body increase its bioavailability, we must understand, that as long as the main ingredient is ascorbic acid, we are still wasting money.

The only kind of vitamin C, which our body can efficiently use, is from all-natural whole-food sources, which contain their full spectrum of bioflavonoids and supporting nutrients. It is well documented that Vitamin C from whole food sources is much easier to assimilate than synthetic vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid) and is also safer and more effective than laboratory-created synthetic or crystalline vitamins, which may be derived from unwholesome or genetically- engineered ingredients. When compared to whole foods, synthetic vitamins are “dead” foods, inert, and can potentially be dangerous.

Throughout history and in all cultures and regions of the world people have been using a number of naturally occurring foods to help all sorts of ailments. They were probably not aware why exactly that particular food worked and what it contained, but they knew what to eat and how to eat it. Here are a few examples.

Amalaki, also known as Amla, the Indian Gooseberry, has been used for centuries and was featured in a 7th century Ayurvedic medical text as the best food to slow down the aging process. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, it is appreciated for its’ immune-enhancing benefits and as a general tonic for optimal health. Amalaki is a potent rejuvenative that nourishes the tissues and gently removes toxins. It is said to stimulate the production of red blood cells, enhance cellular regeneration, increase lean body mass and support proper function of the liver, spleen, heart and lungs. It has also been used to purify the blood, improve eyesight, strengthen the bones and teeth, and cause hair and nails to grow. It improves the digestion, maintains a healthy blood sugar level and is a rich natural source of antioxidants. Amla has specifically been used by people with anemia, asthma, bleeding gums, diabetes, colds, chronic lung disease, hyperlipidemia, yeast infections, scurvy, and cancer. As a potent antioxidant, amla aids the body’s natural defenses against bacteria, and viruses. It also supports digestion.  

Research has shown that 8.7 mg of natural vitamin C complex from amla is equivalent to 100 mg of the most commonly used synthetic vitamin C. (Arore, R.B. Development of Unani Compounds from Herbal Sources, p234, 1985) Each amla fruit contains up to 700 mg of Vitamin C.

Acerola cherries: Have been used in Europe for decades. However here, in the US the acerola cherry has gained popularity only in the recent years. An Acerola cherry can contain up to 400mg of Vitamin C per gram of fresh berry compared to 5mg in a peeled orange. This Vitamin C compound helps strengthen the immune system, support upper respiratory health, fight inflammation and builds collagen, thus it supports beautiful skin.

Rose Hips: Have traditionally been used throughout Europe for centuries to combat colds. Research indicates that since rose hips are very rich in bioflavonoids, which strengthen cell capillaries, they promote circulatory health. Rose hips have 60 times the amount of Vitamin C than the same amount of citrus fruit.

Camu Camu: Native to the Amazon River region and used by natural healers in that part of the world has been prized for its anti-viral and antibacterial properties, to fight colds and prevent migraines. Camu Camu has over 100 times the amount of Vitamin C per gram than an orange.

Citrus Bioflavonoids: These substances, found in citrus fruits, have been shown in numerous studies to treat diseases of the blood vessels and the lymphatic system as they help in the formation of collagen, protect the liver, tendons and the skin from premature degeneration.

I am personally biased to Amla-C Plus and C From Nature -  available from  www.phporder.com/happycells. Both are incredibly well priced, powerful whole food supplements from organic sources that provide highly bio-available Vitamin C. Neither supplement contains GMOs, fillers, sweeteners or additives. The difference between the two is that Amla – C-Plus combines a unique blend of 80% amla berry and 20% Spirulina – a super food by itself - . C from Nature combines amla fruit, camu-camu, acerola cherries, rose-hips and bioflavonoids .

Recommended dosage: 3 capsules daily (best taken am, noon and pm)
6 capsules in times of excess physical and mental stress

 

 

 

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