We’ve all heard about vitamin c and how important it is, but do we actually know how much we can take each day? I believe that we would probably say that taking a single tablet (500-1000mg) is good enough. Let’s see what other authority sites say about our daily requirements of vitamin c.
The WebMD web site says the RDA of vitamin c is approximately 90 mg/day. However, they say that up to 2000mg is safe. There’s a chart on the WebMD web site with RDAs for all age groups. Search Google to find additional information on this all important vitamin.
Below is an article from TriVita® which should answer any questions you have regarding vitamin c and how much you can safely take on a daily basis. Please read and enjoy!
Spring clean with Vitamin C
by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer
Well, it’s officially spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the traditional time for spring cleaning – in our home and inside our body. Time to rid ourselves of all the junk we can’t use anymore and start fresh!
Vitamin C can help us clean out the old and make room for the new.
Would you like to hear something interesting about Vitamin C? Almost all mammals except humans produce Vitamin C as ascorbic acid in their livers. But not just mammals: Almost all animals in the Animal Kingdom produce Vitamin C every day to maintain their health. Why don’t humans produce Vitamin C? How much Vitamin C do people need to take? What effect does Vitamin C have in your body?
The role of Vitamin C
Let’s answer the easy question first: How much Vitamin C does a person need to take? Well, when animals produce Vitamin C it is according to their needs at that moment and during that particular time in their life. A young dolphin may produce much more Vitamin C than an older sibling or parent. However, all dolphins – and all other animals – produce more Vitamin C when they have an infection, when they are exposed to toxins and when they are under stress.
So, we understand that people need different amounts of Vitamin C at different times in their life. We also need more Vitamin C when we face challenges to our health and well-being. In a recent Weekly Wellness Report on colds and flu, we discussed how a Vitamin C flush can help you determine the precise amount of Vitamin C you can use during a given period in your life. The Vitamin C flush was recommended by two-time Nobel Laureate Dr. Linus Pauling, his protegé Dr. Alfred Libby and former director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Russell Jaffe.
What does your body do with all that Vitamin C?
Vitamin C makes things happen in your body.
- Bones – All of the minerals in your bones require Vitamin C to turn them from lifeless rocks into health-building minerals.
- Blood – Your blood needs Vitamin C to convert iron into hemoglobin.
- Thyroid – Your thyroid gland needs Vitamin C to convert copper into thyroid enzymes that carry protein.
- Collagen – All of the collagen in your skin, gums and the rest of your body requires Vitamin C to convert dead protein from your diet into living tissue. This makes you look good as well as feel good!
- Immune system function – Vitamin C activates a certain kind of immune cell called a lymphocyte. Lymphocytes, as the name implies, live mostly in your lymph system. However, they can travel in and out of your bloodstream as well. Lymphocytes that have been activated by your thymus gland can go anywhere in your body to fight disease. The thymus gland uses Vitamin C to program lymphocytes to search out one specific target and destroy it.
- Antioxidant protection – Vitamin C is also an antioxidant. Your body uses it to make glutathione – the “mother” of all antioxidants. What’s more, all other antioxidants can be refreshed by Vitamin C. Important antioxidants like Vitamins A and E can have their lifespan extended by Vitamin C. Antioxidants protect you from premature aging.
Vitamin C has so many functions that you could spend a lifetime studying this one important vitamin. Try the Vitamin C flush and determine how much Vitamin C you can use each day. It can be quite the “spring cleaning,” as it helps remove old lymphocytes and other debris held over in your body. I suggest that you repeat this procedure quarterly – at the change of the seasons. You will find your need for Vitamin C will diminish when you eat fresh fruits and vegetables. It will increase when you are under stress or facing illness.
Conclusion
Why don’t humans produce Vitamin C like other animals? The answer is that we don’t know. What we do know is that people are healthier when they eat Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables. And in this stress-filled, toxic world we have created, more Vitamin C is needed than a depleted diet can provide. This is why we have supplements to help us compensate for the special circumstances we find ourselves in today.
So, do your spring cleaning and start this season of your life in the best possible shape!
** End of Article **
Most pharmaceutical companies claim that all supplements are the same. However, I believe there is a difference. Although I don’t have all the answers, I personally prefer the Vitamin C crystals, but it’s up to you to find the supplements that deliver the best results. One way to find a supplement that will meet your needs is to search Google.
Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Owner, 12871028
The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.