#C1000
vitamin c, the first letter of the alphabet of health
Despite being quite abundant, vitamin C is a relatively sensitive substance that is deactivated by cooking, frying, baking food, as well as exposure to sunlight. Even fruits and vegetables lose their vitamin C concentration when stored in the refrigerator.
Our body cannot synthesize vitamin C and therefore it is necessary to get it through the diet or additionally through supplementation. In order to ensure a sufficient amount, it is necessary to have 5-6 meals with fruits and vegetables during the day, but this is impossible due to the way of life, and an additional obstacle in meeting the required amounts is the lack of vitamin C in modern foods.
Necessary for blood vessels, from childhood to adulthood
Vitamin C helps protect against cardiovascular diseases through its powerful antioxidant effect, and through its role in fat metabolism. In the following, read about the importance of vitamin C and lysine for protection against arteriosclerosis:
»I don’t know if there is even a need for randomized double-blind studies, when there is already enough evidence for the importance of vitamin C and lysine intake in preventing the deposition of arteriosclerotic plaques and mortality from cardiovascular disease. I recommend that every adult take 3 grams of vitamin C a day, and children a smaller amount in relation to their body weight.« Linus Pauling
joints, bones, teeth, vision, energy … always vitamin C
• This vitamin is an important nutrient for building bones, teeth, collagen and protects us from damage to joints, teeth, gums, skin, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Vitamin C helps in the wound healing process, where lysine and zinc also have an effect.
• Offers protection against cataracts, the occurrence of which can also be contributed by the deficiency of vitamin C in the body
• Vitamin C helps in the synthesis process of certain anti-stress hormones, as well as the conversion of food into available energy.
• Vitamin C reduces the risk of some types of malignant tumors – such as of the breast, cervix, colon, throat, lungs, mouth, prostate and stomach.
New knowledge
Low levels of vitamin C in the blood are associated with a higher body mass index (BMI), higher percentage of body fat, and waist circumference compared to people with normal levels of this vitamin. A study done at Arizona State University found that vitamin C status can be an indicator of how successfully the body will use fat as fuel during exercise or at rest. A 2008 study showed the importance of vitamin C through the fact that the body has developed an additional mechanism to utilize the vitamin, given that it cannot be synthesized. Namely, our erythrocytes have developed the ability to bind the spent, oxidized forms of vitamin C (L-dehydro-ascorbic acid/DHA), which the erythrocytes then return back to their normal form.
Did you know that vitamin C is necessary to remove toxins from the body?
In this way, it participates in maintaining the integrity and health of cells, while preventing oxidative damage and helping to remove harmful products of metabolism.
Immune system cells need vitamin C all the time, not just when they are sick!
Neutrophils are white blood cells that are the first line of defense against pathogenic microorganisms. Their primary function is to destroy microorganisms and thus prevent the occurrence of infection. Those cells migrate by chemotaxis to the site of infection and literally swallow the microorganisms, through oxidative and non-oxidative mechanisms of destruction.
Did you know that these very cells that first arrive at the site of infection contain large amounts of vitamin C and that is one of the key elements of their function. Namely, how much our defense cells will be able to fight against microorganisms also depends on how much vitamin C we consume daily.
Neutrophils accumulate large amounts of vitamin C, because during the attack of microorganisms they release large amounts of reactive oxidants, so they need large amounts of intracellular vitamin C, which in those situations increases up to 30 times, of course if there is that amount in the body!
All this points to the crucial role of vitamin C in the immune system. The most common mistake is reaching for vitamin C when someone gets sick, ie. when a systemic infection occurs, and then it is too late. Microorganisms in such a situation overcame the first obstacle of neutrophils and spread in the body. If vitamin C is taken regularly, this barrier will hardly be passed by microorganisms. It is one way we can strengthen immunity, through daily intake of vitamin C (500-2000 mg), as well as through the use of probiotics (let’s not forget the role of intestinal flora in immunity!).
Dosage and safety
Research on the nutritional status of residents of European countries indicates that only 50% of the population consumes the necessary daily amounts of vitamin C.
Although serious deficiencies in developed countries are rare (which would cause scurvy), some studies show that up to half of the population is deficient in vitamin C, which in the long term leads to tissue changes and reduced immunity.
Individual needs for vitamin C vary widely. Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) represent the minimum daily amounts necessary to avoid a serious deficiency that would lead to scurvy, but actual needs are significantly higher.
Not a single side effect of a high daily intake of vitamin C has been confirmed, and there are no proven health claims that very high daily doses of this vitamin (up to 10 g per day in adults) would be toxic.
A sustained-release vitamin
In case of intake of larger amounts of vitamin C, the body excretes them within two hours. That’s why all our products contain a time-released form. This means that vitamin C is gradually released from the carrier and enables a constant concentration of vitamin C throughout the day.
How to recognize if you have a vitamin C deficiency?
There are early signs that your body needs more vitamin C:
- Fatigue – a lower level of vitamin C than what your body needs leads to constant fatigue, because vitamin C is needed to produce energy from food.
- Joint and muscle pain – chronic pain in the joints and muscles can be a sign of vitamin C deficiency.
- Bruising tendency – the appearance of bruises with light pressure or impact may indicate vitamin C deficiency.
- Conditions of the teeth and gums – lack of vitamin C can lead to bleeding and decay of the gums, periodontal problems. These changes appear with a greater deficiency of vitamin C, such as in scurvy.
- Dry skin and hair – Changes in the skin and hair, such as cracking of the ends of the hair, severe dryness of the skin and the appearance of dandruff, are signs that the body lacks vitamin C, as well as other necessary vitamins and minerals.
- Tendency to infections – after a long-term state of reduced intake of vitamin C, there is a gradual decrease in the ability of the immune system to fight infections, as well as the general ability to restore tissues.
- Changes in mood – people with vitamin C deficiency can be excessively irritable and have more frequent mood swings.
