Vitamin C: The "Miracle Vitamin!" Bill Bailey, Ph.D., MH, ND, CNHP, CTN (Dr. Bailey can be reached at Traditional Naturopath)

As some of you may know, since becoming a lower carber, I started studying Natural Health issues while I was working on my Doctorate in Naturopathy.  My studies during that time led me to understand the benefits of a "well known" but little appreciated vitamin... vitamin C!

A study in the Journal of Epidemiology (May, 1992) was reported to show that people who have high blood levels of vitamin C live 6 years longer than those who have lower blood levels!  The Vitamin C Foundation states: "The optimum intake is likely to be in the region of 1,000 mg (1 gram) to 10,000 mg (10 grams) per day.  If you are in the grips of cardiovascular disease, an infectious or immune system disease, or cancer the ideal level may be much higher.  If you drink excessive amounts of alcohol, live in a polluted city, have a stressful lifestyle, take drugs including aspirin, or smoke, your optimal intake will again be raised.  An intake of 200 to 300 mg of vitamin C per day is required to raise the average smoker's vitamin C level to that of a non-smoker.  An intake of around 50 mg per cigarette probably affords maximum protection.  Albert Szent Gyorgi, who isolated vitamin C in 1928, recommends 1 gram daily.  Dr. Michael Colgan takes 5 grams daily.  Dr. Linus Pauling takes 10 to 18 grams daily."

I, personally, take 2 of the Low Carb Nexus® Vitamin C-1500 Sustained Release vitamins daily!  Why?  And what does all this have to do with low carbing?  Well, it is not directly related to the diet... except that some report bruising when losing a lot of weight quickly, and that has been shown to be helped by increased Vitamin C intake.  But at the same time, one of the main reasons any of us "do" the diet... we are concerned with our overall health!

In his article, "Vitamin C: How Much Is Enough?" Patrick Holford states, "The immune system depends on having healthy immune cells and associate molecules such as antibodies.  Vitamin C is essential for both.  Antibody production increases on supplementing 1 gram of vitamin C.  It is also needed for interferon, complement, and prostaglandin production, and is essential for the proper function of immune cells such as lymphocytes and leukocytes.  A recent study showed, in the test tube, that vitamin C can even inactivate the HIV virus.  Thanks to the work of Linus Pauling and coworkers we know that 10 grams of vitamin C doubles the life expectancy of cancer patients, and, in some cases effects a complete cure.  Its role is even more pivotal in cardiovascular disease, which is now being postulated as the long-term consequence of vitamin C deficiency.  Just about every marker of cardiovascular disease, arterial damage, high blood cholesterol levels, low HDL levels, high levels of oxidized cholesterol, thick blood are all improved by adequate vitamin C intake at levels up to 10 grams a day.  Vitamin C increases resistance to stress, lessens allergic reactions, helps arthritic conditions, slows down the aging process and improves energy production.  Beneficial effects of vitamin C in human trials tend to increase with the amount given up to, and above, 10 grams per day.  On the basis of research into vitamin C's effect on disease states it would appear that an intake of somewhere between 1 and 10 grams may be optimal simply for maintaining optimal function of the immune, endocrine and cardiovascular system."

The US RDA for vitamin C is only about 90mg... this is FAR short of the optimum amount needed to act as an antioxidant, benefit heart function and support overall health.  I would encourage you to consider taking additional vitamin C to support good health and well-being!  The better your overall health, the easier it will be to exercise, and pursue your goals of weight reduction!

We have a great mega-value Low Carb Nexus® Vitamin C-1500 Sustained Release form of natural Vitamin C available that is perfect for "mega-dosing" with vitamin C, there are 100 tablets in each bottle, and it has no sugar, starch or other additives and has other beneficial Bioflavonoid Complex factors for maximum Vitamin C utilization.  Check it out HERE!

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