Almost all animals have the ability to produce their own vitamin C, approximately 30mg per kg body weight, 7 times that amount when under stress.
Man, Apes and Guinea Pigs lack the enzyme necessary for the synthesis of this vital nutrient. It is not that we no longer need it, scurvy is a well know result of vitamin C deficiency.
It is believed that somewhere in the distant past evolution made a boo-boo.
This is the nutrient that, back in my dim and distant past, first sparked my interest in complimentary medicine. I used to help out in the first aid room of a large furniture manufacturer. One day, helping the gentleman who ran first aid to unpack supplies I came across a dozen or more tubes of soluble vitamin C tablets. I couldn't think what they might be used for, so I asked. It turned out they had been ordered by the Managing Directors, who, so I was told, 'ate them like sweets' to keep coughs and colds at bay. Anyway, lets leave memory lane and get back to the subject.
The RDA ( Recommended Daily Allowance. ) for vitamin C is 60mg, this was set many years ago. Many scientists and nutritionists, even those of a conservative mind, agree this is woefully inadequate. Vitamin C is easily destroyed by heat, cooking, stress and pollution. If you are a smoker, every cigarette destroys 25mg. Aspirin and oral contraceptives further depletes supply.
The body's need for Vitamin C goes beyond fighting infection, particularly important as the winter months approach. Because it is water soluble, vitamin C only stays in the body for 2-3 hours, a time release supplement will stay in the body for 8-12 hours. If you are a non-smoker and in good health, with a healthy diet, I would suggest a 500mg supplement a day.
Make sure your vitamin C supplement contains both citrus bioflavonoids & rose hips, another excellent source of vitamin C.
Both of these, in much the same way as B complex, help support the action and absorption of vitamin C and also aid wound healing, limit bruising and support the strength and health of veins and capillaries. The whole package also aids in controlling cholesterol and is a vital element in the production of collagen, a key substance in the supple health of skin, ligaments and cartilage.
In times of illness it is a good idea to increase your intake of vitamin C to at least 1000mg a day, preferably timed release or 500mg taken twice daily. I have often found this sufficient to stave off coughs and colds even when surrounded by others already afflicted.
If however you are unfortunate enough to be struck down with a bad cold or flu, it is perfectly safe to increase your intake to 4000mg ( 1000mg x 4 or 500mg x 8 ) per day, until you start to feel significantly better, which in most cases will prove to be days sooner than might otherwise be expected.
It is important to reduce your increased dosage slowly over the course of at least a week. A sudden decrease can cause a rebound effect with all the symptoms you thought you had conquered returning with a vengeance. Equally, don't be tempted to maintain the high dose beyond necessary, the body is likely to rebel with a bout of diarrhoea, not only because in higher doses vitamin C can act as a laxative, but also the body will want to get rid of what it can't use.
The above information is intended for otherwise healthy adults. If you are pregnant or regularly take prescribed medication always consult your doctor.
This is the nutrient that, back in my dim and distant past, first sparked my interest in complimentary medicine. I used to help out in the first aid room of a large furniture manufacturer. One day, helping the gentleman who ran first aid to unpack supplies I came across a dozen or more tubes of soluble vitamin C tablets. I couldn't think what they might be used for, so I asked. It turned out they had been ordered by the Managing Directors, who, so I was told, 'ate them like sweets' to keep coughs and colds at bay. Anyway, lets leave memory lane and get back to the subject.
The RDA ( Recommended Daily Allowance. ) for vitamin C is 60mg, this was set many years ago. Many scientists and nutritionists, even those of a conservative mind, agree this is woefully inadequate. Vitamin C is easily destroyed by heat, cooking, stress and pollution. If you are a smoker, every cigarette destroys 25mg. Aspirin and oral contraceptives further depletes supply.
The body's need for Vitamin C goes beyond fighting infection, particularly important as the winter months approach. Because it is water soluble, vitamin C only stays in the body for 2-3 hours, a time release supplement will stay in the body for 8-12 hours. If you are a non-smoker and in good health, with a healthy diet, I would suggest a 500mg supplement a day.
Make sure your vitamin C supplement contains both citrus bioflavonoids & rose hips, another excellent source of vitamin C.
Both of these, in much the same way as B complex, help support the action and absorption of vitamin C and also aid wound healing, limit bruising and support the strength and health of veins and capillaries. The whole package also aids in controlling cholesterol and is a vital element in the production of collagen, a key substance in the supple health of skin, ligaments and cartilage.
In times of illness it is a good idea to increase your intake of vitamin C to at least 1000mg a day, preferably timed release or 500mg taken twice daily. I have often found this sufficient to stave off coughs and colds even when surrounded by others already afflicted.
If however you are unfortunate enough to be struck down with a bad cold or flu, it is perfectly safe to increase your intake to 4000mg ( 1000mg x 4 or 500mg x 8 ) per day, until you start to feel significantly better, which in most cases will prove to be days sooner than might otherwise be expected.
It is important to reduce your increased dosage slowly over the course of at least a week. A sudden decrease can cause a rebound effect with all the symptoms you thought you had conquered returning with a vengeance. Equally, don't be tempted to maintain the high dose beyond necessary, the body is likely to rebel with a bout of diarrhoea, not only because in higher doses vitamin C can act as a laxative, but also the body will want to get rid of what it can't use.
The above information is intended for otherwise healthy adults. If you are pregnant or regularly take prescribed medication always consult your doctor.
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