The Truth About Vitamin C: There has always seemed like an endless amount of research about how effective supplements are at protecting against short-term and long-term sicknesses. When you feel a cold or flu coming on, it’s natural to reach for vitamin C to help fight off the infection. But what does science say about the benefits of vitamin C for colds and the flu? Research suggests that vitamin C can help reduce the duration and severity of symptoms, but it’s not clear whether it can prevent you from getting sick in the first place. So is it worth stocking up on vitamin C supplements during cold and flu season?
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects the immune system, increases the risk of chronic diseases, and slows the aging process.
Understanding Immunity:
The immune system is more effectively protected against viral infections and other types of infections when vitamin C is present. This is achieved by strengthening our innate immune system, which is our first line of defense against bacteria and viruses.
Vitamin C activates the adaptive immune system and produces antibodies that attack bacteria, viruses, and germs that the body has previously fought.
Weakened immunity is a hallmark of vitamin C deficiency. A Swiss study found that adequate vitamin C levels reduced the severity and duration of respiratory infections, such as the common cold, sinusitis, and bronchitis. When combined with zinc, it can also prevent or improve the outcomes of pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea infections.
Over 11,000 participants participated in 29 randomized trials examining vitamin C’s effectiveness in preventing respiratory infections. Exercise in cold weather significantly reduced the duration of cold and flu symptoms, and the amount of vitamin C taken daily reduced athletes’ risk of respiratory infections by half.
Moreover, vitamin C can prevent cancer cells from spreading and stop their growth. The risk of heart disease was reduced by 25% in people who took 700mg of vitamin C daily, and both triglycerides and (bad) LDL cholesterol levels were reduced.
The Truth About Vitamin C: Health Benefits of Vitamin C
The Seminars in Preventive and Alternative Medicine recently published a study that reviewed over 100 studies and found that vitamin C has several health benefits.
Among those are:
- Heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke prevention
- LDL, triglycerides, and other bad cholesterol levels can be lowered
- Preventing cataracts and macular degeneration
- Taking care of the kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels of diabetics
- Increasing iron absorption and preventing anemia
- Lessening allergies and inflammation symptoms by reducing histamine reactions
- Keeping seasickness at bay
- The body’s tendons, ligaments, and cartilage are strengthened and repaired.
Our bodies don’t make vitamin C, so it’s easy to become deficient in it. Vitamin C deficiency can cause:
- Bruises
- Bleeding gums or swollen gums
- Insufficient healing of wounds
- Hair that is dry
- Skin that is rough and scaly
- Nasal bleeding
- Colds and flu frequently due to a weak immune system
- Food allergies and digestive disorders
- Coronary artery disease and high blood pressure
The Truth About Vitamin C: Do We Need to Supplement Vitamin C?
Human beings are one of the few species that cannot make vitamin C in their bodies. Therefore, they must consume it or take supplements. Additionally, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin; it easily washes out of the body. If you want to get the most benefits from vitamin C, you should consume it regularly, not just at the onset of getting sick.
Even though high doses of vitamin C may be helpful for some health problems, many of the over 400 mg of vitamin C will typically be lost through the urine. Take vitamin C in divided doses throughout the day if you take large amounts; otherwise, you might get diarrhea and digestive upset.
Using liposomal (or pro-liposomal) vitamin C is a new way to get vitamin C. Taking ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in its common form only absorbs about 14-30% of it. The higher the dosage, the lower the absorption rate. With liposomal vitamin C, you can take larger doses and know that all will be absorbed.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and super nutrient in foods, so it is best to consume foods with high levels of vitamin C. The foods with the highest levels of vitamin C are citrus fruits, kiwis, peppers, strawberries, broccoli, and tomatoes. A variety of organic, brightly colored vegetables is a great way to get plenty of healthful vitamin C. Be careful not to overcook the vegetables because overcooking destroys the vitamin C.
Nevertheless, you might still want to consider supplementing with vitamin C to ensure your body has optimal levels of protection. Although high doses are generally safe, it is still important not to exceed the upper limit of 2,000 milligrams per day to avoid adverse digestive symptoms.
What is Liposomal Vitamin C?
BodyBio Liposomal Vitamin C is the same high-quality Quali-C pure ascorbic acid you know, plus our new liposomal encapsulation delivery technology––ensuring that you get the most bioavailable and easily absorbable vitamin C that your cells crave.
Liposomal Vitamin C supports the immune system, neurotransmitters, the brain, adrenals, gut health, and more.* A more absorbable vitamin C means that more of this key nutrient can get to every organ and system in your body that needs it (which is just about all of them).
Liposomal Vitamin C also helps support the body’s inflammation response and, protects the body from free radicals, toxins, environmental pollutants, stress, and supports healthy detoxification pathways.* Use Liposomal Vitamin C for daily support and/or in times of acute stress on the body, such as coming down with a cold or flu.
References:
- Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH. Immune-enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Ann Nutr Metab. 2006;50(2):85-94. doi: 10.1159/000090495. Epub 2005 Dec 21. PMID: 16373990.
- Lehr HA, Frei B, Olofsson AM, Carew TE, Arfors KE. Protection from oxidized LDL-induced leukocyte adhesion to microvascular and macrovascular endothelium in vivo by vitamin C but not by vitamin E. Circulation. 1995; 91: 1525–1532.