You probably have a bottle of vitamin c in your cupboard and use it during cold and flu season. Unfortunately, 40 percent of the American population is deficient in this crucial vitamin. It’s such a common vitamin that we all know about but very few of us know the true power it holds and most of us do not get enough!
What vitamin is it?
Vitamin C!! It is known as the “immune vitamin” for good reason, it has a very integral relationship with the immune system. It has also been shown to have potent anticancer actions and 75 percent of cancer patients where shown to be low in Vitamin C, which indicates a poor prognosis.
Not only do Americans not eat enough vitamin C rich foods but we eat a lot of sugar! Having similar chemical structures and they compete for absorption in white blood cells. They are both trying to enter through the same door, but there is only room for one. Even modest amounts of blood sugar elevations impair the transport into your immune cells. Sugar basically negates its immune benefits!!!!
It’s many immune-boosting and anticancer actions:
- Reduces the risk of every type of cancer
- Antiviral and antibacterial
- Increases levels of interferon (a signaling protein produced in response to the development of tumors)
- Reduces the cancer-causing effects of toxins in our environment on our DNA
- Increases Natural Killer cells
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
Because it has been shown to exert all these impressive effects, it is now administered intravenously in progressive cancer clinics. At higher doses than can be tolerated orally, intravenous vitamin C (IVC) becomes a “pro-oxidant”, working similar to chemotherapy but offering greater protection to healthy cells. IVC has been found to stabilize many cancers, stopping the growth and spread of the tumors and enhancing the response to chemotherapy.
RDA What is it?
RDA, recommended dietary allowance is the “minimum” of a nutrient that you need to have in order to not go into a state of deficiency. There is another recommended dosage and that is called the ODI, optimal daily intake. The ODI is a far better guideline to reach “optimal” nutrition instead of the bare minimum.
The RDA is a paltry 60mg, and 40 percent of the population is not even getting that!! The ODI is 800 milligrams. A large, decade long study found that men who took 800mg vitamin C per day had less heart disease and lived up to six years longer than those following the RDA of 60mg daily.
While most animals have the ability to produce vitamin C internally, three species cannot. Guinea pigs, primates, and humans must obtain their vitamin C from their diet. When studying animals who make their own vitamin C, its found that when under stress they start pumping it out like crazy! That should give us a window into what the body is craving.
Our adrenal glands are vitamin C hogs. When under stress our adrenals will scavenge all our vitamin C in order to make our stress hormones. So, the next time you are feeling stressed, eat some vegetables, or simply take a vitamin C capsule or tablet.
What Type of Vitamin C is Best?
The Linus Pauling Institute (the father of Vitamin C) has a great synopsis of the types and how they show up in the blood (the marker that it was absorbed).
The big controversy lies in the formulation; L-ascorbic acid, Ester C, Liposomal C, Vitamin C with bioflavonoids or buffered Vitamin C?????
The research done at the Linus Pauling Institute showed ALL of these forms of show up in the blood to some degree. They used nutritional supplements during these studies, not vegetables and fruits. What has always been my standard for a supplement, whole-food sourced, I still believe is the best choice. We are “nature” and when we eat “nature” our body recognizes it! CAUTION: Many vitamin supplements are made from corn. 90 percent of the corn grown is GMO. Avoid corn-based vitamin supplements.
Dosage
Going back to the RDA vs the ODI the bare minimum you would want on a daily basis is 60mg and ideally, shoot for 800mg (food sourced and supplements combined). If supplementing with a tablet, capsule or powder the key is not to “load up” on a huge amount. It is water-soluble and has a half-life of 30 minutes. If you take 1,000mg of vitamin C, in 30 minutes half of that is gone in your urine! Studies do show that spacing your intake out over a period of hours in a dosage around 200mg is best to reach a good blood level.
I have used a “controlled release” vitamin C for thirty-five years. This is different than a “timed-release” supplement. You may have used a timed-release medicine in the past. This is where it opens up and releases its contents somewhere down the intestinal tract a few hours after taking it. Controlled release is slowly “un-wrapping” a protein matrix as it travels down the intestinal tract. It releases small amounts over a period of six hours. If I’m feeling a cold or sore throat “coming on” I can take this at bedtime and know that I have it present in my blood for at least six hours to support my bodies manufacturing of immune cells. (If your interested in knowing more about this product please email support@chrismckeecnc.com)
Bottom Line
We all need more vitamin C!!! If you are a diabetic you need four times higher than the average person (remember the sugar is fighting with it!). If you are immune-compromised you need much higher than the average person. Are you going through a stressful season in your life? Increase your vitamin C to support your adrenal glands.
As we enter the fall months and the cold and flu season, make vitamin C part of your daily intake through fruits, vegetables, and a high-quality supplement.
To your health,
Chris
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