Vitamin C - Are you deficient?

Curious about taking Vitamin C?

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How much vitamin C can you take and should you take on the regular?

It depends!

- stress from the inside aka our emotions and stress from external factors like work stress, financial stress, family stress mean we need more!
- Did you know that if you're on birth control you need more Vitamin C than the average woman?
- Same goes for taking synthetic estrogen, possibly prescribed during menopause cortisone, or even aspirin.
- Smoking also increases your body's need

Vitamin C Deficiency

True Vitamin C deficiency is called Scurvy

Signs and symptoms of scurvy:
🍊 Easy bruising
🍊 Bleeding gums
🍊 loose teeth
🍊 nose bleeds
🍊 mouth sores
🍊 joint tenderness, pains in arms and legs
🍊 slow wound healing
🍊 general weakness
🍊 loss of appetit

Scurvy was discovered in the Age of Exploration but the first ever record that we know about was in 1550 BCE in Ancient Egypt. Hippocrates of Ancient Greek times, also described the signs and symptoms of Scurvy. Today, Vitamin C deficiency is most likely to occur in formula-fed infants, or in teens or elderly who do not eat fresh fruits or vegetables.

Vitamin C Deficiency in Infants
Vitamin C crosses the placenta, so babies are used to receiving Vitamin C in utero, but after birth, unless they're breastfed, they are relatively deficient. Formula-fed babies would not be getting the same amount that they are used to from their moms through breastmilk instead of through the placenta, so they can develop, in rare cases, a Vitamin C deficiency. This is called "rebound scurvy" but isn't a serious problem unless the pregnant person was taking high doses of vitamin C. If they continue to breastfeed, or if that's not an option, rebound scurvy can be remedied if the baby receives liquid vitamin C until their levels adjust.

Vitamin C Benefits
🍋 Prevents common cold with a boost to the immune system response
🍋 prevents the formation of free-radicals (cancer) through the oxidation of fats
🍋 supports the adrenals to handle stress

So how much should you have daily?
Some practitioners recommended anywhere between 2500 - 9000 mg / day

What about in sickness?

Because of the boost Vitamin C gives to the body to remove any unwelcome visitors, like the bacteria and germs that cause cold and flu, then adding Vitamin C supplements either via your diet, or with ascorbic acid tablets or powder, is a great idea!

The Bowel Tolerance Test

However, family physician Robert Cathcart practiced bowel tolerance with his patients, which is the idea, especially when sick, that you take as much vitamin C as your body can handle and your body will tell you when to stop visa vi diarrhea. 💩💩💩

That's one way to communicate with and listen to your body!

So when you’re sick, it’s going to be harder to perform this test if you already have loose bowels. So, on another day, try taking doses of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and see how many mgs your threshold is! That way, when you’re sick, you know what to reach for. Take it slowly throughout the day as Vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the body and you wouldn’t want to miss the beautiful benefits.

Foods that are high in Vitamin C:

Try adding these to your diet! One small piece (like a few orange segments) will give the average person in an unstressed state enough for the day.

• oranges

• strawberries

• grapefruit

• kiwi

• bell peppers

• white potatoes

• broccoli

• cabbage

• cauliflower

• brussel sprouts

• tomatoes