Vitamin C

Summary:  Use vitamin C as required.  Get a powdered form since it is cheaper and usually more effective.  Taking a total of 3 grams per day is a good measure for maintenance.  Use in divided doses, using less if it causes diarrhea or other flushing symptoms (see text below), and build up to required dose as the body acclimates.  Dosage schedule as some vitamin C advocates define it, in grams per day

Very low dose:  < 1 gram.
Low dose: 1 to 3 grams. 
Medium dose: 3 to 15 grams.  
High dose: 15 to 30 grams.  
Very high dose: 30 to 50 grams.
Ultra high dose: 50 grams or more.

To use large amounts of vitamin C, get a powdered product, many of which are available in health food stores.  If not used to taking vitamin C, start with a small amount mixed in water or juice, enough to get a single gram or less of vitamin C.  If it causes stomach upset or diarrhea, use half as much for the next dose.  The body will quickly adjust to taking more and more without upset or diarrhea, but if these still occur, continue taking small amounts until tolerance builds.  

Vitamin C, known as ascorbic acid in its uncombined state, is probably one of the most beneficial single vitamins to take for fighting many chronic and degenerative maladies as well as acute illnesses. The main problem with supplementation is that people usually take an insignificant amount.

Humans are one of the few animals (guinea pigs being another) who cannot synthesize ascorbic acid and must ensure it is in the diet, although there is some evidence that other nutrients such as DHA (see Fats and Oils) can be converted to ascorbic acid when there is enough glutathione available.  Humans have to consume 3-12 grams of vitamin C per day to get the average amount that is produced by ascorbic-acid-synthesizing animals.  Low dose vitamin C supplementation is therefore considered this amount - 3g per day or less.  More is taken as required.  Many of the "super antioxidants" like grape seed extract, curcumin, pycnogenol, glutathione, and others, as well as vitamin E, scavenge and preserve vitamin C in the body such that less may be necessary to provide the same benefit if using one of these. However, one must first be consuming adequate vitamin C for these supplements to have the most benefit.

When using high dose vitamin C it is preferably taken in powder form, mixed into a liquid like water or juice.  Using a lot of capsules or tablets at one time is not recommended since they can cause stomach upset.  There are many powdered forms available in health food stores. 

There is debate as to the best chemical forms of vitamin C to take.  Some proponents (including Hulda Clark and Dr. Cathcart) say to use plain ascorbic acid and some say to use a buffered form, which generally means it is less acid since it is bound to a mineral like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and/or sodium. Some think that sodium ascorbate is the best form to fight illness since the sodium does appear to help in some cases, but others contend that the reducing power of plain ascorbic acid fights pathogens better. Using a calcium or sodium ascorbate product for high dose or above may provide too much of the particular mineral. However, mineral ascorbate products that contain a small amount of calcium and magnesium can be helpful taken in amounts to get around 100% RDA of calcium and 100-200% RDA magnesium. Ingredient lists from the eRegimens Favorite Supplements section shows the quantities they contain in the Additional Information (pink) section below.

As shown in the table below, Nutribiotic makes some excellent mineral ascorbate vitamin C formulas, including ones with bioflavonoids, electrolytes, and other minerals.  Two of these are Nutribiotic Hypo-Aller C and Nutribiotic Ascorbate Bio-C.   They must both be added to water since they effervesce.  The Hypo-Aller C contains 350mg each of calcium and magnesium with small amounts of a couple other minerals like potassium and zinc.  It is excellent to use as a calcium magnesium supplement, taking a teaspoon before bed mixed in water.  The Bio-C contains bioflavonoids with a smaller amount of calcium and magnesium in a 2:1 ratio with a few other minerals, including potassium, manganese, zinc, chromium, and selenium.  It is excellent for allergies and probably fights disease a bit better.  It is one of the best vitamin C product to combat snoring, too.  The Hypo-Aller C tastes a bit better, dissolves more easily, and is closer to neutral pH, if these are considerations.  The main problem with these two products is they are difficult to find.  Many health food stores carry the Nutribiotic line (mostly grapefruit extract products) and can order the C products, though, or they can be found a few places online. 

A good "pocket" regimen for acute illness is oregano oil and packets of Emergen-C, another type of effervescent mineral ascorbates product that comes in small packets, usually 36 per box and come in many different flavors, with and without sugar, and have some for specific purposes, such as one with glucosamine and chondroitin to fight arthritis, plus one that includes a gram of MSM per serving.  They can easily be carted around in a purse or pocket for use whenever needed.  Mix a single packet of Emergen-C, or more depending on the need, in water, add 3 to10 drops of prediluted oregano oil, mix well, and swig (avoid letting oregano oil touch the lips since it will burn).  A good prediluted oregano oil is made by North American Herb and Spice Co. and widely available in health food stores.

Other products that deserve mention include Nutribiotic's Meta-C. It is a pH neutral form of vitamin bound to phytoplankton, which may be helpful in reducing toxic metal deposits in the body. It comes in capsules, tablets, or powder, but the powder is not recommended due to the taste. NSI makes a product called Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids, Quercetin, Green Tea, Lysine, and Proline, an encapsulated product with ascorbic acid form of vitamin C. Although probably beneficial for most heart and circulation problems, it does not contain adequate magnesium for this purpose (as do good mineral ascorbates products) but is instead recommended for cancer.

A good vitamin C formula for general heart and circulation health, as well as an instant remedy for some heart problems like angina, is Source Naturals L-Proline L-Lysine. It is a Linus Pauling Mathias Rath based formula which provides a large amount of vitamin C in the form of calcium and magnesium ascorbates plus proline and lysine. eRegimens once recommended Jarrow Formulas TLC 3.0, an effervescent proline lysine minerals ascorbates powder product, but for reasons unknown, this excellent formula has been discontinued. Since the Source Naturals product provides mineral ascorbates, especially magnesium, and not just ascorbic acid as is found in the "NSI Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids, Proline, Lysine", it is better for most cases. However, the Source Naturals Proline Lysine does not really provide enough magnesium by itself unless large amounts are taken (3 tablets three times per day), but since the Pressur-Lo contains a good bit, the combination is sufficient.