Humans, along with guinea pigs, are among the few animals that don’t produce their own vitamin C, so we need to get it from food. Vitamin C exists in two forms in plasma; as ascorbic acid (the reduced and active form) or dehydroascorbate (the oxidized and inactive form). What are the little known facts on Vitamin C? Let us get reacquainted:
- The brain shows how the body recycles vitamin C. The brain is one of the organs that contains one of the highest amounts of vitamin C of any organ in the body. However only the inactive form, or dehydroascorbate (DHA), is transported through the blood-brain barrier, where it is then converted to vitamin C after transport.
- Ascorbic acid has a half-life in the blood plasma of about 30 minutes. This means that every 30 minutes half the remaining amount of ascorbic acid in the blood is excreted through the kidneys. It is this high turnover rate which makes it extremely challenging for the body to maintain an ideal ascorbic acid reservoir (4500 ppm) in the blood that is able to deal with the “oxidizing” affects of dis-ease causing chemistry;
- Only complexed Vitamin C should be ingested for best effects. Fresh whole fruits, berries, herbs and vegetable come packed in an array of phyto-antioxidants. The exception would be when higher therapeutic doses are desired to halt oxidative stress, infections and to mobilize metals during detoxification;
- Vitamin C should not be taken when kidney function is in question. Kidney stones however are not a result of Vitamin C use;
- Vitamin C will not cure the common cold because the common cold is not a disease, but a cell cleansing event aided by a resident symbiotic microbes;
- Metal detoxing will do much more to prevent colds when the body’s immune system is down for maintenance;
- Lipospheric Vitamin C is the preferred form. Lipo-C maintains serum levels longer than water soluble forms and is thought to be well absorbed due to its fat soluble characteristics. However Lipo-C does not seem to deliver a mega ascorbate spike that prompts H2O2 release or an “oxidative burst.” Lipo-C is the goto source for those with poor bowel tolerance to ascorbate and could be used in conjunction. Lipo-C can be easily made in a blender or ultrasonic device using either ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate and preferably non-soy lecithin. Recipes can be found on the internet.
How Much Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is the glue that holds the cells together. A deficiency of Vitamin C literally makes one come “unglued.” That means that during times of stress, the body requires more vitamin C. According to the book, Vitamin C and Cancer, a spider bite, considered a minor injury, requires at least 75 grams of vitamin C, intravenously, to heal and restore the body to normal levels. Author Dr. Abraham Hoffer also showed that Vitamin C helps cancer patients live much longer.
Dr. Reams, an agronomist and healer believed that vitamin C was a critical factor to perfect wellness. He found that using 450 mg/dL of vitamin C in the blood destroyed diseased cells and organisms. Cell culture studies at the National Institute of Health have confirmed this.
Vitamin C as ascorbic acid, when sourced in the US (it is almost exclusively sourced here),is often a genetically modified (GMO) product derived from corn, most of which is 99+% GMO. In other words, there is no Vitamin C supplement capsule or powder that satisfies the organically-minded individual.
A Vitamin C deficiency indicates that calciums are out of ratio, and may also reflect when glands of the neck are swollen.
It has been commonly thought that adding vitamin C as supplements only worsens existing conditions by taking the pH lower. However, while ascorbates have appeared to cause digestive upsets, research has shown that it is the osmotic gradient that has been altered in the gut not the pH. When blood plasma is not able to take on more C, there is an osmotic movement of water toward the ascorbate in the gut, which means water will move into the gut and liquefy the stool, causing diarrhea.
When in doubt about supplementation, always go back to Nature. Nature heals in its original form, in foods closes to the Earth and in gardens closest to your home. One of the best ways to source vitamin C is to grow it in your garden as green onions. Dr. Reams learned that fresh onions when cooked or stewed contain a neutral form of C that is as bioavailable as Lipospheric Vitamin C.
Onion Soup Recipe:
1 lb green onions, chopped or 1 lb white onions, chopped. Blend into 1-2 cups of distilled water. Simmer with other herbs or soups for taste. Can be combined with vegetable broth. Use this 4 times per week for Vitamin C.
Humans, along with guinea pigs, are among the few animals that don’t produce their own vitamin C, so we need to get it from food. Vitamin C exists in two forms in plasma; as ascorbic acid (the reduced and active form) or dehydroascorbate (the oxidized and inactive form). What are the little known facts on Vitamin C? Let us get reacquainted:
- The brain shows how the body recycles vitamin C. The brain is one of the organs that contains one of the highest amounts of vitamin C of any organ in the body. However only the inactive form, or dehydroascorbate (DHA), is transported through the blood-brain barrier, where it is then converted to vitamin C after transport.
- Ascorbic acid has a half-life in the blood plasma of about 30 minutes. This means that every 30 minutes half the remaining amount of ascorbic acid in the blood is excreted through the kidneys. It is this high turnover rate which makes it extremely challenging for the body to maintain an ideal ascorbic acid reservoir (4500 ppm) in the blood that is able to deal with the “oxidizing” affects of dis-ease causing chemistry;
- Only complexed Vitamin C should be ingested for best effects. Fresh whole fruits, berries, herbs and vegetable come packed in an array of phyto-antioxidants. The exception would be when higher therapeutic doses are desired to halt oxidative stress, infections and to mobilize metals during detoxification;
- Vitamin C should not be taken when kidney function is in question. Kidney stones however are not a result of Vitamin C use;
- Vitamin C will not cure the common cold because the common cold is not a disease, but a cell cleansing event aided by a resident symbiotic microbes;
- Metal detoxing will do much more to prevent colds when the body’s immune system is down for maintenance;
- Lipospheric Vitamin C is the preferred form. Lipo-C maintains serum levels longer than water soluble forms and is thought to be well absorbed due to its fat soluble characteristics. However Lipo-C does not seem to deliver a mega ascorbate spike that prompts H2O2 release or an “oxidative burst.” Lipo-C is the goto source for those with poor bowel tolerance to ascorbate and could be used in conjunction. Lipo-C can be easily made in a blender or ultrasonic device using either ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate and preferably non-soy lecithin. Recipes can be found on the internet.
How Much Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is the glue that holds the cells together. A deficiency of Vitamin C literally makes one come “unglued.” That means that during times of stress, the body requires more vitamin C. According to the book, Vitamin C and Cancer, a spider bite, considered a minor injury, requires at least 75 grams of vitamin C, intravenously, to heal and restore the body to normal levels. Author Dr. Abraham Hoffer also showed that Vitamin C helps cancer patients live much longer.
Dr, Reams, an agronomist and healer believed that vitamin C was a critical factor to perfect wellness. He found that using 450 mg/dL of vitamin C in the blood destroyed diseased cells and organisms. Cell culture studies at the National Institute of Health have confirmed this.
Vitamin C as ascorbic acid, when sourced in the US (it is almost exclusively sourced here),is often a genetically modified (GMO) product derived from corn, most of which is 99+% GMO. In other words, there is no Vitamin C supplement capsule or powder that satisfies the organically-minded individual.
A Vitamin C deficiency indicates that calciums are out of ratio, and may also reflect when glands of the neck are swollen.
It has been commonly thought that adding vitamin C as supplements only worsens existing conditions by taking the pH lower. However, while ascorbates have appeared to cause digestive upsets, research has shown that it is the osmotic gradient that has been altered in the gut not the pH. When blood plasma is not able to take on more C, there is an osmotic movement of water toward the ascorbate in the gut, which means water will move into the gut and liquefy the stool, causing diarrhea.
When in doubt about supplementation, always go back to Nature. Nature heals in its original form, in foods closes to the Earth and in gardens closest to your home. One of the best ways to source vitamin C is to grow it in your garden as green onions. Dr. Reams learned that fresh onions when cooked or stewed contain a neutral form of C that is as bioavailable as Lipospheric Vitamin C.
Onion Soup Recipe:
1 lb green onions, chopped or 1 lb white onions, chopped. Blend into 1-2 cups of distilled water. Simmer with other herbs or soups for taste. Can be combined with vegetable broth. Use this 4 times per week for Vitamin C.
Rosanne Lindsay is a writer, blogger, and Naturopathic healer. She is the author of two books, The Nature of Healing: Heal the Body, Heal the Planet, and her story of thyroid disease reversal: Free Your Voice, Heal Your Thyroid, Reverse Thyroid Disease Naturally. Find her at Nature of Healing on Facebook. Consult with Rosanne to create a custom healing plan via Skype or Zoom or phone. Contact her at natureofhealing.org. Subscribe to her blog for updates at https://www.natureofhealing.org/blog/ and visit her podcast on Blogtalkradio, Thursdays at 5 pm CDT.
