Health Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C has so many health benefits that I could build an entire website around this one home remedy alone!

You are probably familiar with this famous nutrient. Most of you know it was discovered centuries ago as a cure for scurvy. Some of you probably even take a little extra when you feel a bug coming along. But there is a lot more to this super power than meets the eye.

We humans are one of only three animals that can’t make Vitamin C within our bodies (guinea pigs and primates are the other two).  It is also water soluble, so we secrete excess through our urine.

What does this mean? ...  It means daily intake is extremely important. We need a constant supply to stay healthy.

If you are wondering how much to take per day, it depends on your situation...but the brilliant Vitamin C pioneer and researcher Linus Pauling took 12000 mg a day.

Because Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin ... and your body excretes any excess ... an overdose is virtually impossible.

Over the years there have been some amazing discoveries about this vitamin and how it effects human health. Let us explore some of these discoveries now....

What Are the Health Benefits of Vitamin C ?

I could write a whole book on the healing powers of Vitamin C ...seriously...there are so many studies showing this is a near cure all...it is simply mind-boggling. 

Here are some of them....

1.  Pain Reliever -- Acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine at high doses, and can produce powerful pain relief. How much does it take, you ask?  The only way to know is to keep taking it until your pain starts to decrease.

I'd like to share this interesting study with you: Scientists studied individuals with wrist fractures to see if vitamin c could help with their "reflex sympathetic dystrophy" -- (I kid you not, my imagination isn’t big enough to make names this confusing up)...

"Reflex sympathetic dystrophy"  is doctor-speak for a group of symptoms including pain, tenderness, and swelling.

Vitamin c reduced the pain caused by wrist fracture so well that the scientists concluded that vitamin c may help with other traumas too. They are correct indeed!

2.  Anti-Inflammatory -- We have talked about how vitamin c helps with pain. Well pain usually comes from inflammation. A CRP test, [short for C-reactive protein], is a blood test marker that measures inflammation in the body. When this is high, it is bad. Inflammation is one of the drivers of disease and pain. If your CRP test comes back high then you have a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes, certain cancers, and brain diseases like Alzheimer's.

But don’t fret -- there are many ways to lower it. A study done in Britain on 3258 men ages 60-79, found plasma vitamin C, fruit intake, and dietary vitamin C intake was significantly [and inversely] associated with lower CRP levels and improved endothelial function. This shows that Vitamin C works as an anti-inflammatory, while also improving endothelial function. [Endothelium is the inner lining of our blood vessels.] 

Anything you can do to improve its function is going to improve your blood circulation and lower your heart disease risk,  a win-win.

3.  Fights Infection -- We have all heard that vitamin C helps prevent and treat colds. But the dose must be right. At high enough doses it plays a role in aiding the body to kill bacteria and viruses. But there is one caveat....

When you are ill, your body uses the Vitamin C already in your body to fight the infection.  This causes your body's reserves to fall. That means you need even more  than you might think to fight infection.  Tens of thousands of milligrams, maybe even one-hundred thousand milligrams.

So many of the studies concluding that vitamin c doesn’t fight infections failed to use anywhere close to the necessary dose required.  500 mg will barely touch a powerful viral infection.

As a matter of fact one study found that it takes at least 1000 mg a day just to rebuild your usual store of this vitamin during times of illness.

Then when you think you are feeling better, keep taking tons of Vitamin C until you are sure that the infection is completely gone. 

If you really want to dig in about vitamin c and infections, some of the best work was done long ago by Dr. Fred Klenner. Click here to read more. 

4. Pneumonia -- Studies have shown that the better a individual's vitamin c status, the less risk of developing pneumonia.  And this super vitamin also helps you recover if you do get pneumonia.

Vitamin c boosts the immune environment within the lungs and helps mitigate the inflammation that comes with pneumonia. Both of these factors help fight the infection.

Vitamin c also reduces the oxidative stress that pneumonia produces. Because it contains antioxidants, it fights the free radicals in our bodies, helping to prevent them from causing damage and disease.

Vitamin c is an important ally when we are fighting infections. Remember, when you are very ill, your stores get low within the body. So it is important to take extra during any health crisis.

5.  Atherosclerosis -- Linus Pauling's theory was that heart disease is really chronic scurvy (Vitamin C deficiency). He found that when humans, guinea pigs, and primates (animals that can't produce their own Vitamin C) didn’t get enough in their diet, then they developed arterial plaque. He even demonstrated it in a study on guinea pigs.

The guinea pigs who were deprived of vitamin c developed heart disease. The group receiving adequate amounts didn’t develop heart disease. 

Linus Pauling developed a protocol to reverse heart disease in humans using vitamin C, lysine, and proline. The protocol has helped many people regain their health. You can find the exact protocol online by clicking here.

6.  Stroke Prevention -- Studies done with the elderly found that individuals with the highest vitamin c intake had a lower risk of stroke.

As a matter of fact ... vitamin c status was as strong a predictor of death from stroke as diastolic blood pressure!   So if you are concerned about strokes, up your daily intake by eating more vitamin c rich foods.  

7. Potent Cancer Fighter -- Cancer eats sugar...loves it so much that doctors inject radioactive sugar into the body to locate tumors. They can see the cancer tumors eating the radioactive sugar. But cancer cells have a weakness....they can't tell the difference between Vitamin C and sugar [their chemical structure is similar]. So they eat the Vitamin C, thinking it's sugar...and Vitamin C kills cancer cells. It's the ultimate Trojan horse!

8. Cancer Prevention -- Scientists compared 46 different studies on vitamin c preventing non-hormone dependent cancers. They found that those with high intake from fruit groups had a two-fold greater protection from cancer than those with low intake.

9. Leukemia --A recent study shows Vitamin C's potential for preventing the spread of leukemia.  If you have leukemia, find a health practitioner licensed to administer Intravenous Vitamin C.  It won't do you any harm, and the possible benefits are worth the effort.

This was a study done using mice. The researchers used human leukemia cancer stem cells and transplanted them into the mice. Intravenous vitamin c was administered to the rats. They found that high dose intravenous vitamin c promotes something called "DNA demethylation", which means that vitamin c tells leukemia stem cells to mature and die. This prevents the leukemia from spreading.  The implications of this study are huge. .[ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319017.php].

http://www.oncology.news/2017-08-27-vitamin-c-found-to-halt-blood-cancer-when-administered-in-high-doses-so-why-wont-the-cancer-industry-use-it.html

10.  Asthma -- Vitamin c is found in higher concentrations in the lung tissue than any other antioxidant. Its role inside the lungs is to neutralize toxins and oxidants we breathe in from the environment.

Toxins and oxidants in the air are irritating to the lungs and can cause an attack. This super vitamin is able to dampen the effect of these agents on the lungs, thereby reducing attacks.

Vitamin c has shown promise in exercise-induced asthma as well. One study gave asthmatic athletes 1 – 2000 mg of ascorbic acid before their exercise routine. It reduced their symptoms up to 52 %

12. Osteoarthritis -- In a study done with rats, scientists were able to stop the progression of osteoarthritis. Vitamin c had the capability to slow down or stop the further progression of joint deterioration, and it helps the formation of collagen, one of the building blocks of cartilage tissue. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can slow deterioration.

13. Iron Absorption -- There are two types of iron, heme and non-heme. Heme is the most absorbable form and is found in animal foods like meat. Non-heme is the form of iron found in plants, but it is less absorbable than heme.

Even though heme iron is more absorbable, that doesn’t mean it is better for us, far from it. There is evidence that heme iron can lead to heart disease and cancer, but we are not going to get into that here.

This is about vitamin c and non-heme iron. To increase your absorption of non-heme iron from plants such as spinach, eat it with vitamin c! Simply adding fresh lemon juice to your spinach can significantly increase the iron you can absorb!

14. Depression -- A study done in the elderly found that a low vitamin c status resulted in a greater risk of experiencing depression. Nutrient deficiencies are usually greater in the elderly because most have decreased appetites or the foods they choose to consume have a poor nutrient quality. If you suffer from depression, or you are feeling blue, try increasing your intake significantly through foods and supplements (and maybe add in some vitamin d for good measure).

15. Cataracts -- While there is speculation that computer screens and LED lights can help contribute to cataracts, one definite cause of cataracts is a diet low in antioxidants.

Remember antioxidants help protect our bodily tissues from oxidative stress damage caused by free radicals. So if you are eating a diet made up of predominantly processed food and junk, you are more than likely low on antioxidants.

Studies looking at an individual's vitamin c status and its relation to cataract development have found low  levels increases the risk of cataracts. And yes... that means that if you are getting adequate amounts in your diet, your risk of developing cataracts will fall.

So eat more plants and eat more vitamins.  It is also a good idea to get some computer glasses, also called blue light blocking glasses. These glasses help protect your eyes from bluelight. Check them out for yourself.  

16. Contrast-Induced Nephropathy -- Contrast induced nephropathy is simply kidney damage caused during CT scans.  To conduct a CT scan, your doctor will inject a radioactive dye into your body that helps the CT scan work better.  [I don’t know about you but that scares the crap out of me.

Make sure you understand the risks of this procedure, which includes kidney damage and even death, before agreeing to a CT scan!] 

The vitamin c did help prevent or lessen the injury. So if you are planning to have this procedure, be sure to take plenty of Vitamin C before and after. Oh and by the way... a lot of doctors who perform this procedure aren’t even aware of the complications that can arise from it.

17. Bacterial Vaginosis -- This is simply a bacterial infection of the vagina.  A team of researchers discovered that ascorbic acid used vaginally works as well as the typical antibiotic metronidazole at curing bacterial vaginosis.

One group of women received a 250 mg vitamin tablet used vaginally once a day for six days. The other group received a metronidazole vagina gel for 5 days.

Ascorbic acid worked as well as the metronidazole for clearing up the infection.

18. Protects Body From Radiation Exposure -- Antioxidants helps protect our bodies from damage caused by radiation and other oxidative stressors.  If you have been exposed to X-rays or other forms of radiation, consider taking vitamin c to offset any damage that might have been done to your body.

A study done on workers at Fukushima in Japan recorded these findings. There were 16 men included in the study. These men worked at Fukushima for 5-6 weeks. Scientists took 4 blood tests. Whole blood counts and chemistry, plasma levels of free DNA, 47 cancer related gene expression and calculated cancer risk score.

The protocols given to the workers was an IV of 25 grams of vitamin c that also contained the b complex vitamins. 

In addition to this, the workers took this regimen throughout the day: 1 gram of liposomal vitamin c twice a day, 600 mg alpha lipoic acid, 400 ug of selenium, 400 ug of vitamin e, and two multivitamins a day.

The results were impressive. After working at Fukushima, only 3 men had an increased cancer score risk. After the 2 months with supplementation, circulating free DNA returned to normal levels [circulating free DNA is another indication of human pathology or disease], and their cancer risk score significantly decreased.

The conclusion was Fukushima workers should start taking nutritional supplementation immediately.

19. Powerful Post-Surgery Healer -- Vitamin c works as a cofactor for collagen synthesis. Collagen is found in high amounts in our bodies. It plays a role in healing our bodily tissues, creating the structure that gives tissues their strength.

When we are injured and healing, we need to synthesize additional collagen, and we need vitamin C to do it.  If steps aren’t taken to keep your stores high, it will result in slower healing times.

The ideal approach is to find a doctor or natural health practitioner to give you an intravenous drip.  Otherwise you will need to take it orally.

The typical recommendation is to take a minimum 1000 – 2000 mg per day 5 days before your surgery, and continue with that dose for a week after the surgery.  But personally I would take a lot more than that.  If it were me in that situation, I would take at least 5,000-10,000 per day.  

20. Promotes Healthy Teeth and Gums -- Getting adequate amounts of vitamin c everyday is important to keep and protect the integrity of your bodies tissues. That includes your teeth and gums.

21. Skin Whitening and Wrinkle Reduction -- As we have talked about before, vitamin c plays an important role in collagen production. It also possesses skin whitening properties when applied externally to the skin.

There are several ways vitamin c whitens the skin and reverses skin damage:

• Slows down the bodies production of melanin. [Melanin determines your skin color.]

• Fights free radicals that cause skin aging and darkening.

• Acts as a skin exfoliant.

Let me give you an example of a study that showed this vitamin's ability to reverse skin damage caused by the sun.  After 6 months of applying a topical solution of % vitamin C and 0.1 % of an herb called Centella asiatica, results showed significant improvement in:

• deep and superficial wrinkles

• suppleness

• firmness

• roughness (skin became smoother)

• skin hydration.

Which Type of Vitamin C Should I Use?

There are many types of Vitamin C available to you.  In fact...there are so many we decided to create a separate page to discuss the pros and cons of each. 

Click here to learn more about which type of Vitamin C is right for you.

Vitamin C is usually taken in the form of a pill or a powder.  However, if you are in need of very high doses, you can also look for a natural practitioner in your area who administers it intravenously. 

How To Take Vitamin C

I am often asked..."How Much Vitamin C Should I Take?"

The answer depends on you.

The first question you must answer is this:  Am I looking for a daily supplement, or am I looking for help with an infection or injury or other ailment?

If you are looking for a daily supplement, I usually recommend....

However, if you are using Vitamin C to help you with an infection or other ailment, you need to be doing something called "mega-dosing.  This means you should be taking Vitamin C to what we call "bowel tolerance."

That means you take it until your stools (bowel movements) become loose and runny.

Remember Vitamin C is water soluble, and your body will excrete what it doesn't need.  So you don't have to worry about taking too much (unlike Vitamin D, which is fat soluble, and therefore stored in your fat cells).

If you take more than your body wants, the rest will come out of your body in the form of loose bowel movements.

Here are some tips for mega-dosing....

Tip #1: The Ideal Amount For You May Fluctuate Over Time

The more inflammation or infection you have, the more your body will absorb, so the amount you need may vary over time.

Tip #2:  You Can't Take Too Much -- Your Body Will Keep What It Needs and Excrete Any Excess

You may be wondering whether it is safe to take high doses.  Don’t worry...high dose vitamin C has been used extensively with little to no side effects...

Tip #3: To Determine the Right Dose For You -- Take to Bowel Tolerance... 

Once you have taken enough you will start to have runny bowel movements.  That is your body getting rid of the excess, and that is your signal that you have found your maximum dose. Whatever dose caused loose bowels, just back off by 1000 mg a day and that should be your dose.

Tip #4: Spread Doses Out Over Time For Maximum Uptake

To get the maximum oral dose into your system, take 1000-5000 milligrams every 15 minutes rather than taking 10,000 milligrams once every hour.  This gives your body more time for absorption and decreases the amount you will excrete.

Getting Vitamin C From Foods

Of course we have all heard that oranges are a great source of vitamin c, but so are a lot of other foods that we don’t think of as easily.

Some of them might surprise you!

Here are some great options for you (mg of Vitamin C per serving included):

• 1 orange-70 mg

• 1 mango- 122.3 mg

• 1 cup strawberries- 84.7 mg

• 1 cup broccoli-81.2 mg

• 1 acerola cherry- 80.5 mg

• 1 cup kale- 80.4 mg

• 1 cup pineapple-78.9 mg

• 1 cup Brussel sprouts- 74.8 mg

• Large potato- 73 mg

• 1 cup cantaloupe-57.3 mg

• Lemon- 31 mg

• Lime-20 mg

• 1 cup cherries- 15.5 mg

• 1 cup pineapple-78.9 mg

• 1 cup grapefruit- 71.8 mg

• 1 kiwi- 64 mg

• 1 cup turnip greens- 39.5 mg

• 1 cup bok choy- 31.5 mg

• 1 star fruit- 31.3 mg

While pretty much all fruits and vegetables contain vitamin c, the foods above contain the highest amounts.

You can also see while the foods above are high in vitamin c, you could never reach mega doses with food alone. So if you are very ill and you want to do megadoses, it would be best to eat the foods above in addition to a supplement.

Powdered foods with high vitamin c content

Powders are a quick and convenient way to get vitamin c from a whole foods source.

One of the easiest ways to use the powders is by throwing them into a smoothie.

You can buy several of the powders and mix them, by doing this you will be getting a greater variety of nutrients.

Here are some ideas for products you can buy in powdered form.  Be sure to buy from a reputable source:

• Acerola cherry- (one of the highest vitamin C contents found in nature)
  

• Orange peel powder
  

• Amla powder (aka Indian gooseberry powder)

• Moringa

• Lemon peel

• Rose hips

• Seabuckthorn berry

• Strawberry

There are many great and fun ways to get extra C in your diet.

And remember ... don’t wait until you start feeling ill to grab for the C.

It is far better to ensure you are consuming adequate levels every day.

In doing this you are less likely to suffer a breakdown in your health in the future.

Want to delve deeper into the studies posted on our Vitamin C Home Remedies Page?

Click here to see a list of all of the studies we referenced ....

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