Health Benefits and Healing Powers of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble nutrient for humans, which means it is required in our diet on a regular basis. We are one of the few species that cannot synthesis our own. This is due to lacking the enzyme (L-gulonolactone oxidase) required to convert glucose into ascorbic acid. The bioavailability of vitamin C depends on both intestinal absorption & renal excretion.

Our dependency on Vitamin C was first discovered during early boat voyages that extended beyond a month’s duration, which produced Scurvy disease. The symptoms of Scurvy demonstrate overt Vitamin C deficiency. These include; fatigue, muscle weakness, aching joints, poor wound healing, gingivitis, bleeding gums and emotional distress. Without Vitamin C, we eventually die of infection & uncontrolled bleeding … pretty dramatic!

The roles and actions of Vitamin C are exhaustive. It’s easy to see why we are so reliant upon it. Just to name a few of its main functions; antioxidant, antihistamine, collagen synthesis, bone and teeth growth, detoxification of heavy metals, vasodilation (open capillaries), cell membrane maintenance, adrenal & ovary function, sperm motility & regulates cholesterol metabolism.

When choosing food sources of Vitamin C, it is important to buy ‘seasonally’ fresh produce. Vitamin C content will be lost during extended refrigeration and transport. Seasonal fruits include Guavas, Kiwifruit, Strawberries, Citrus and Papaya. For daily Vitamin C rich foods, consider Leafy Greens, Broccoli, Tomato, Snow Peas, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Bell Peppers and Parsley.

The amount of vitamin C we require these days is considerably more than in previous years, due to elevated demands of stress, higher toxin exposure and compromised digestive capacity. Achieving sufficient dosages can be quite tricky. Both Magnesium and Vitamin C are hydrophilic, which means they have an osmotic ability to attract & absorb fluid. They are so effective that they are utilised as a healthy laxative alternative. Therefore, bowel tolerance will limit the amount we can absorb digestively.

Intravenous Vitamin C (available at BGH) is the gold standard for by-passing bowel tolerance to achieve medicinal levels in the blood. However, the newsflash is about a new nutritional technology that has produced Liposomal Vitamin C, which delivers ascorbic acid in a micro-lipid form. This form vastly improves assimilation and absorption rate, much higher up in the gastrointestinal tract. This new form of Vitamin C is … what all the fuss is about! Giving us access to a quite higher dosage range than ever before.

Vitamin C has become the poster child, during these days of essential immune resilience. Ensure that it is included in your Holistic Health Plan. Due to the water-soluble nature of Vitamin C, it is perfectly safe to supplement with every day. Maintenance dose for an adult is 1000mg twice per day. If you are suffering a cold, flu, respiratory condition or cancer, increase the dose to four times a day.