Are vitamin C pills or an Orange Juice glass your go-to remedy for the sniffles? Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel laureate and self-described promoter of vitamin C, encouraged daily megadoses of this vitamin (equivalent to 12 to 24 oranges) as a strategy to fend against colds and several chronic illnesses in the 1970s. Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is a water-soluble vitamin. It may be given to the body's tissues by dissolving in water, but because it cannot be effectively stored, it must be consumed daily through food or supplements. Nutritionists knew something in citrus fruits could prevent scurvy, a condition that claimed up to two million lives before its discovery in 1932. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can disarm dangerous free radicals and aid in the healing of wounds and illnesses. It is required for the production of collagen, a fibrous protein found in connective tissue and woven throughout the neurological, immunological, bone, cartilage, blood, and other systems in the body. The vitamin aids in the production of various hormones and chemical messengers that are employed in the brain and nerves. While megadosing on this vitamin is not unusual, how much is the ideal dosage required to maintain health, and could taking too much have the opposite effect?
Vitamin C absorption
The intestines have a limited ability to absorb vitamin C. Studies have shown that absorption of vitamin C decreases to less than 50% when taking amounts greater than 1000 mg. In generally healthy adults, megadoses of vitamin C are not toxic because once the body’s tissues become saturated with vitamin C, absorption decreases and any excess amount will be excreted in urine.
Vitamin C is involved with numerous metabolic reactions in the body, and obtaining the RDA or slightly higher may be protective against certain disease states. However, a health benefit of taking larger amounts has not been found in people who are generally healthy and well-nourished. RDA: The current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin C for adult nonsmoking men and women is 60 mg/d.
Vitamin C and Health
The antioxidant properties of vitamin C have drawn attention since studies have shown that the vitamin may combat free radicals, which, in excess, can harm cells. By promoting the activity of white blood cells, vitamin C also plays a role in the immune system of the body. Did You Know? Vitamin C improves the absorption of non-heme iron, the type of iron found in plant foods such as leafy greens. Drinking a small glass of 100% fruit juice or including a vitamin-C-rich food with meals can help boost iron absorption.
Vitamin C can be destroyed by heat and light. High-heat cooking temperatures or prolonged cook times can break down the vitamin. Because it is water-soluble, the vitamin can also seep into cooking liquid and be lost if the liquids are not eaten. Quick heating methods or using as little water as possible when cooking, such as stir-frying or blanching, can preserve the vitamin. Foods at peak ripeness eaten raw contain the most vitamin C.
History of Vitamin & Vitamin C
Since their discovery in the late 1800s and early 1900s, vitamins and their specific nutritional needs have been the subject of debate. Our current understanding of vitamins and minerals is the result of the combined work of epidemiologists, doctors, chemists, and physiologists. They were able to determine, after years of observation, research, and trial and error, that several diseases were not brought on by infections or poisons, as was previously believed, but rather by vitamin deficiencies. In order for a vitamin to be duplicated, chemists worked to determine its chemical composition. Soon after, scientists came up with the precise vitamin dosages required to prevent diseases caused by vitamin deficiencies. The term "vitamin" was originally used in a research journal by scientist Casimir Funk in 1912; it was derived from the words "vita" (which means life) and "amine," which refers to a nitrogenous chemical necessary for life.
Before the 1930s, when commercially produced supplements of several vitamins became accessible, people could only get their vitamins from food.
The majority of vitamins and multivitamins were sold to the general population in the 1950s to prevent deficiency. Benefits of Vitamin C Supplement 1. Boosts immunity 2. Tonic for Skin health 3. High anti-aging propertise 4. Improves memory 5. Prevents iron deficiency 6. Good for heart health 7. May reduce blood uric acid levels and help prevent gout attacks TUSKCA VITAMIN C is obtained from Amla. It is a powerful natural antioxidant. Tuskca Vitamin C 1000 supports immune system health and general health and wellbeing. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can strengthen your body’s natural defences. Antioxidants are molecules that boost the immune system. They do so by protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. Studies show that consuming more vitamin C can increase your blood antioxidant levels by up to 30%. This helps the body’s natural defences fight inflammation. Vitamin C may help lower blood pressure in both those with and without high blood pressure. Vitamin C helps the absorption of non-heme iron, which is found in plant foods like leafy greens.