Vitamin C – To immunity and beyond!

Created on: January 8, 2021

Vitamin C is commonly known for its effects on the immune system, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg! The body utilizes this essential nutrient in many different processes.

Can I make it myself?

We can’t produce vitamin C within the body, which means we have to get it from our diet or supplementation. This isn’t the case for all animals though. Goats are able to synthesize several grams of vitamin C in the liver each day! Pretty cool, right?

How much do I need?

The Canadian recommended daily amount (RDA) for adults ranges from about 75 mg-120 mg per day, with the upper limit intake being 2000 mg. For acute needs, taking 600-1000 mg per day isn’t out of the ordinary. If you’re wondering what your daily dose of vitamin C should be, talk to your healthcare practitioner.

What if I don’t have enough?

Since we can’t produce vitamin C within the body, deficiency is common. The symptoms that occur when we’re lacking in a vitamin or mineral give us a good indication of its purpose in the body. Here are some of the common indications of vitamin C deficiency:

Poor immunity
Fatigue
Depression
Bleeding gums and loose teeth
Unusual bleeding and bruising
Poor wound healing
Dry, discoloured skin
Anemia
In serious cases, scurvy can develop

The many benefits of vitamin C

Immune health

The immune system is a complex set of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect the body from foreign invaders. Vitamin C supports the function and production of B-cells, T-cells and natural killer cells, which are all key players in immune function. As well, high levels of vitamin C can be found in white blood cells, which are responsible for defending the body against unwanted pathogens.

Allergies

During an allergic reaction, mast cells release histamine, which results in inflammation and those familiar seasonal allergy symptoms. The body tries to get rid of the allergen via itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing and coughing.

Vitamin C and citrus bioflavonoids act as a natural antihistamine by stabilizing mast cells and assisting the enzymes that break down histamine (DAO). If you’re looking to expand your seasonal allergy toolkit, try adding vitamin C with citrus bioflavonoids and AllergyTryp to block histamine-releasing trypsin.

An effective antioxidant

Antioxidants are used throughout the body to protect against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that occur naturally in the body in response to incoming toxins such as UV rays, pollution and cigarette smoke. Antioxidants float up to the free radical, and offer an electron to help stabilize it. Without the presence of antioxidants, free radicals will do anything to stabilize themselves, leaving a path of oxidative damage.

Depending on the affected cells and tissues, this damage can have a wide range of consequences including:

Damage to blood vessels
Oxidation of cholesterol, resulting in arterial plaque
Increased risk of cardiovascular events
Sun damage, resulting in the potential for skin cancer
Declining vision
Decrease in cognitive function
Liver damage
Autoimmune diseases
Mitochondrial dysfunction

Citrus bioflavonoids to the rescue

Vitamin C is a vital antioxidant in its own right, but has a fairly short lifespan in the body. Citrus bioflavonoids, found in citrus fruits, help to extend the antioxidant lifespan of vitamin C by figuratively resuscitating it after each encounter with a free radical.

Quells inflammation

A clinical study tested levels of two inflammatory markers in the body: C-reactive protein (CRP) and oxidized LDL.

CRP is a protein in the blood that indicates when there is inflammation in the body. Elevated CRP can increase the risk of heart disease, and can be a sign of infection.
Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the “bad cholesterol” that has been further damaged by free radicals. High levels of oxidized LDL can promote the clogging of arteries, increasing the risk of stroke or heart attack.

In this study, 24 hours after taking PureWay-C there was a 15.6% decrease in serum CRP, and 8.4% decrease in oxidized LDL.

Collagen production

Collagen keeps our skin firm, our bones strong and our joints flexible. As our main structural protein, it amounts to about 25-35% of all protein in the body. After the age of 25, we start to break down collagen faster than our body can produce it.

Vitamin C is one of the many nutrients required for collagen production in our:

Bones and teeth
Hair, skin and nails
Joints, tendons, cartilage and ligaments
Blood vessels
Muscles
Wound healing

Some choose to take vitamin C to boost collagen production, while others take a powder form of collagen. Both wild-caught marine and grass-fed bovine are great options.

Stress and the adrenal glands

The adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing stress hormones, have a high concentration of vitamin C. During stressful situations, vitamin C gets used up quickly.

A group of researchers put two groups through a universally stressful event – public speaking. One group took 500 mg of vitamin C daily for one week prior, and the control group did not. Stress measurements included heart rate, dry mouth, intestinal cramping and anxiety. The vitamin C participants reported significantly lower measurements of stress than the control group.

Iron absorption

Doctors often recommend a glass of orange juice alongside an iron supplement. That’s because vitamin C acts as a weak chelator, by binding to iron to increase solubility in the small intestine.

Nerve function

Vitamin C is involved in the functioning of nerves, which is indicated by the neuropathy that results from a deficiency. It has been shown to have a positive effect on three cells that are involved in nerve injury and regeneration: neurons, Schwann cells and macrophages.

Need a boost?

If you need to boost your vitamin C, try Pureway-C with citrus bioflavonoids. Pureway-C outperforms other forms of vitamin C and goes the distance. Learn more here.