Happy Vitamin C Day
Well, sort of. Today is National Vitamin C Day in the United States (RFK, are you listening?).
In South Africa, every day is Vitamin C day. Without some “Vitamin C”, nothing would happen in this country. You’re waiting in the queueueue (yes, it’s extra long) at Home Affairs, when you spot your friend Joe behind his desk. You catch his eye and give him a wave and a friendly smile. He motions for you to come over. Once you’re at his desk, he quickly processes your papers. Vitamin C worked its magic yet again. It’s not what you knowknow, it’s WHO you know. It’s all about CONNECTION.
It is unlikely that our (slightly estranged) cousins in the US have this kind of Vitamin C in mind (although, with the way the FDA, NIH and CDC have been run, maybe they do).
Why the fuss about vitamin C?
Your probably won’t think of nuclear weapons and Vitamin C at the same time. Yet it took an anti-nuclear activist to put Vitamin C on the map.
One man – a double Nobel Prize laureate at that – brought Vitamin C from relative obscurity into the limelight. If it wasn’t for Linus Pauling, we’d likely never have heard of Vitmain C outside of text books.
Linus Pauling (one of the most brilliant chemists to ever walk the face of the earth) was a vocal proponent of Vitamin C’s health benefits. His advocacy for high doses of Vitamin C, particularly in preventing and treating illnesses, made him a controversial figure in the medical community (“controversial” is medical code for, “he knows too much and needs to be silenced”).
Pauling’s interest in Vitamin C began in the 1960s when he explored the potential of micronutrients in improving human health. He was particularly influenced by the work of biochemist Irwin Stone, who suggested that humans require far more Vitamin C than the Ridiculous Daily Allowance (RDA) to achieve optimal health. Pauling himself began taking high doses – up to several grams daily – and reported feeling healthier and more energized.
In 1970, Pauling published “Vitamin C and the Common Cold”, in which he argued that large doses of Vitamin C could significantly reduce the severity and duration of colds. He later expanded his claims, suggesting that Vitamin C could help prevent or treat more serious conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. In his 1979 book “Vitamin C and Cancer”,, he proposed that high doses of the vitamin could slow the progression of cancer, based on studies showing prolonged survival in terminally ill patients receiving Vitamin C supplementation.
Pauling’s advocacy led to widespread public interest in Vitamin C, but also intense criticism from the medical and pharmaceutical communities (guess why). Many clinical trials failed to replicate his results, particularly in cancer treatment. If you understand the concept of “designed to fail” research, you will grasp why. Critics accused Pauling of overstating Vitamin C’s benefits and ignoring contradictory evidence. However, some later studies suggested that Vitamin C might have a role in immune support and antioxidant defence, validating aspects of his claims.
Pauling’s work contributed to a broader acceptance of nutritional science in disease prevention. Without him, there would not have been a supplement industry. Vitamins as a tool for better health would have been a conspiracy theory. To this day (and despite recent, positive studies), Big Pharma still does not endorse Pauling’s high-dose recommendations. After all, do they REALLY want something cheap that works for cancer?
Pauling’s critics are fond of pointing out that he died of prostate cancer. They fail to mention that this was at the age of 93… For comparison: the average life expectancy of a boy born in the US in 1901 (Pauling’s birth year) was below 48 years.
How Does Vitamin C Work In The Body?
At the cellular level, vitamin C, AKA ascorbic acid, functions as a powerful antioxidant, enzymatic co-factor, and immune booster.
It neutralises free radicals (the “red berets” of your health) by donating electrons, protecting DNA, proteins, and lipids from oxidative stress while regenerating other antioxidants like vitamin E and glutathione.
How Does This Play Out In The Body?
Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and function of all organs in the body. Its benefits are extensive, impacting the immune system, cardiovascular system, liver, nervous system, skin, and more.
Immune System
In the immune system, vitamin C strengthens neutrophil function, enhances T-cell and B-cell activity and reduces inflammation by modulating cytokine levels. It enhances the production and function of white blood cells, which fight off infections and cancers. As an antioxidant, vitamin C protects these cells from damage by neutralising free radicals. Regular intake of vitamin C can reduce the duration and severity of common colds and other infections.
Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system benefits significantly from Vitamin C due to its antioxidant properties, which help prevent oxidative stress – a major contributor to heart disease. Vitamin C aids in the maintenance of healthy blood vessels by helping in collagen production (a protein that provides structural support in arteries). It also helps lower blood pressure by improving the dilation of blood vessels. Furthermore, Vitamin C can reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Liver
The liver is designed to filter out toxins. As such, it is often under fire. In the liver, vitamin C neutralises some toxins that can threaten the health of liver cells. It also aids in the repair and recovery of damaged liver cells.
Nervous System
Vitamin C is vital for the proper functioning of the nervous system. It plays a role in the synthesis of brain hormones (neurotransmitters), such as noradrenaline (your get-up-and-go hormone). As an antioxidant, Vitamin C protects the brain from oxidative stress, which is linked to brain diseases like Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Studies show that adequate levels of Vitamin C are associated with improved brain function and a reduced risk of cognitive decline.
Skin
In collagen synthesis, Vitamin C acts as a co-factor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases, ensuring proper structural integrity of connective tissues, skin, and blood vessels. In simple English: Without it, your body falls apart.
Skin, hair, and nails rely on vitamin C for their health and vitality. Vitamin C also supports the skin’s barrier function. Skin is the first line of defence against harmful microbes, making a healthy skin barrier the first step in preventing infections. Collagen is essential for skin elasticity and strength. Vitamin C helps in the repair of damaged skin (reducing wrinkles and scar formation). Yes! It may reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Additionally, Vitamin C protects the skin from damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays, reducing the risk of skin cancer. Its role in wound healing is also well known, as it speeds up the rate of healing.
Muscles and Bones
Muscles and bones also benefit from Vitamin C through its role in collagen production. Collagen is necessary for the maintenance of bones, cartilage, and connective tissues. Vitamin C helps in the absorption of calcium, which is needed for bone health. It also has a direct effect on bone density by stimulating osteoblasts, the cells responsible for bone formation.
Additionally, vitamin C is crucial for energy metabolism, assisting in carnitine synthesis, which transports fatty acids into mitochondria for ATP production.
Mineral Absorption
Calcium is not the only mineral to benefit from Vitamin C. Ascorbic acid intake boosts the absorption of iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium and cobalt, while reducing the absorption of copper, nickel, manganese, cadmium and mercury. By improving iron absorption, Vitamin C boosts red blood cell production, leading to better oxygen transport throughout the body.
Lungs
Vitamin C supports the lungs by reducing the risk of chronic respiratory diseases. Its antioxidant properties help protect lung tissues from oxidative damage caused by pollutants and smoking. Vitamin C can also alleviate symptoms of asthma and improve lung function by reducing inflammation.
Wherever the tekkie hits the tar, Vitamin C is there. You might as well call Vitamin C the “everywhere vitamin”. We have only scratched the surface of what Vitamin C can do for you.
Big Pharma knows that people who use vitamin C are not going to spend a lot of money on medicines. Even seriously ill patients gain back significant health when they start using “high” doses of vitamin C.
If vitamin C is so important to health, why are we told the RDA is only 90 mg per day for adults???
How Much Is Too Much?
Most mammals can produce their own Vitamin C. They do not need to get it from fruits. A healthy male goat will produce 13g of Vitamin C daily. That’s his baseline. If you stress him out, the production of Vitamin C can jump as high as 100g. If you reduce 100g of vitamin C to dry powder, it will fill half a cup! IN ONE DAY! Have you ever seen a goat with gout or heart disease? Large amounts of Vitamin C do not cause gout or heart disease, as is often believed. Interestingly, goats do not get cancer, either.
Vitamin C is water soluble, meaning it can easily be excreted in the urine. Very little is stored in the body. No need to worry about excess vitamin C heaping up in the body. People with chronic kidney disease should, however, be careful.
How Much Do You Really Need?
The short answer is: MORE. For most healthy adults, a daily dose of 3000–5000 mg per day represents a great dose.
What Format Is Best?
Enter the money-making gurus. You will have noticed that all kinds of very expensive Ascorbic Acids have hit the market. This confuses everyone (and earns profits from the confusion). The basic truth is that any form of Vitamin C that is in solution when taken, will absorb pretty well. Yes, liposomal vitamin C absorbs better, but consider the bigger picture.
The cost of liposomal Vitamin C means you take less vitamin C (to save money). If you had bought inexpensive vitamin C, you would have been able to take much more per day (and still save money). Better absorption means nothing if you’re not taking enough.
How To Take Vitamin C
Vitamin C tablets are the cheapest form, but they can lie in the stomach for a while, causing irritation. Dissolved vitamin C moves through the stomach in minutes, making stomach issues unlikely. Also, the gut can only absorb about 250-500 mg of vitamin C per hour. If you take a lot of vitamin C tablets, most of them will pass through undigested since the gut cannot handle that much vitamin C at once. The excess is still good for your gut microbes, but you don’t want to waste money, do you?
What About Powder?
Vitamin C powders sound like an ideal solution, but they are not innocent, either. Virtually every commercially available vitamin C powder has added flavourants and sugar or other sweeteners. Additionally, most vitamin C on the market is made from genetically modified rice (or other organism), which usually means the presence of toxins such as glyphosate (RoundUp).
We Thought Of You!
We offer a Pure Non-GMO Vitamin C Powder in 200g amounts, along with a handy little spoon. One level scoop represents about 5,000 mg of Vitamin C. Add this to 1L of water and sip it during the course of the day. This way, you never overload your gut with too much vitamin C while consuming an optimal daily dose.
For the mathematically challenged, that’s 40 day doses per bottle.
How Does It Taste?
When diluted in 1L of water, it barely has a taste. You will notice the slightly sour taste, but that is all – nothing overwhelming. Adding a bit of bicarbonate of soda can reduce the acidity if the full dose is taken in a glass of water.
Why Buy Our Pure Non-GMO Vitamin C Powder?
* It’s pure and clean!
* It’s simple!
* It’s fast!
* It’s convenient!
* It’s affordable!
* It’s good for you!
* It’s easy to get into kids!
The Team at Integrow Health
PS – For the computer geeks out there, today is also Nowhere Day – today’s date is 4/04 or “404”.
PPS – Maybe someone should put the GNU on a vitamin C drip? They seem to lack a bit of Conneciton.
