Vitamin C - Whole Food is Best

What is Vitamin C?

Whole Food Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a vitamin that can be found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Because it is water soluble, Vitamin C dissolves in the water in our bodies, leaving excess amounts to be excreted as urine, not stored. Human bodies cannot create Vitamin C from other sources, so it is an integral part of a nutritious diet and must be consumed on a continual basis. Vitamin C plays an integral part in new cell growth and repair. Its benefits as an antioxidant mean that Vitamin C can help block some of the damage caused by free radical buildup. Supplementation is often recommended because of the prevalence of Vitamin C deficiency in many people's diets. Natural Vitamin C is part of a complex chain of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes called co-factors that cannot be duplicated in a lab. Of the hundreds of manufacturers making Vitamin C supplements, only a handful produce whole food supplements. Catie's Vitamin C Plus, the brand we recommend, is a whole food supplement made by the reputable Energy Essentials, a company who pledges to source ingredients that are as organic as possible without the use of chemicals, pesticides, sweeteners, or preservatives.

Benefits of Vitamin C

Some Natural Sources of Vitamin C

There are many foods that contain Vitamin C in varying amounts. Vitamin C is a natural component of all fruits and vegetables, but there is a short list of superfruits with the highest potency.

Natural Vitamin C vs. Synthetic Vitamin C

There are many products on the food store shelves that have been fortified with Vitamin C, including most major brands of cereal and a long list of juices. A grocery consumer will also find a number of dietary supplements marketed as Vitamin C that are actually made with Synthetic Vitamin C, or Ascorbic Acid. The synthetic, chemically manufactured Ascorbic Acid seems to have a similar molecular makeup to Natural Vitamin C. So, is it just as good?

Of course not!

Natural Vitamin C

Whole food Vitamin C is extracted from plants by removing water and fiber with a cold spray and vacuum packaging it for freshness. The natural, complex co-factors maintain their potency and are not denatured. They are not chemically processed or preserved.

Ascorbic Acid

The synthetic Vitamin C found in most supplements and fortified foods is Ascorbic Acid, a GMO product manufactured in a pharmaceutical facility without any single part of a plant. A chemical. It does not have the complete co-factor content from which the human body derives nutritional benefit. Ascorbic Acid contains only portions of the vitamin, mineral, and enzyme chains that the body requires for metabolic function. The deficit is made up by the body, as it pulls from its own nutrient stores to synthesize the remainder of the co-factors. This leaves the body depleted, causing secondary vitamin deficiency. 

What is the Difference?

*According to the manufacturer, 5.6 mg of Catie's Vitamin C Plus is equal to approximately 1500mg. of ascorbic acid.

Ascorbic Acid, the synthetic Vitamin C found in the majority of Vitamin C supplements, is mass produced in a lab with chemicals. Whole food Vitamin C is real Vitamin C made from real food with its co-factors intact. In a synthetic form, the vitamin is isolated from the "big picture," a metabolic process involved in Vitamin C complex, without which it is useless. The human body cannot process and absorb Vitamin C without the co-factors, enzymes, and bioflavinoids naturally found in fruits. Without this combination, the synthetic vitamins are quickly filtered through the urinary system and discarded by the body as waste. Only a fraction of the enormous dose is absorbed and used for energy. The bulk majority becomes, as dieticians have long stated, "expensive urine." Continuous use of Ascorbic Acid supplements can even put strain on the kidneys. Whole food supplements come from potent natural sources, which allows for a higher degree of bioavailability and effectiveness at a much lower dose.

What Did Dr. Linus Pauling Conclude About Vitamin C?

Dr. Linus Pauling was the two-time Nobel prize-winning author of How to Live Longer and Feel Better as well as Vitamin C and the Common Cold. He devoted his life to scientific research concerning molecular balance and the effect of Vitamin C on overall health. He promoted the use of Vitamin C supplementation to treat cancer, prevent and treat heart disease, promote overall health and well being, and increase life expectancy. He concluded that potent sources of Vitamin C are capable of warding off viral and bacterial invasions and can stop the spread of cancer and the damage of heart disease. The work of Dr. Linus Pauling did not get much attention within the medical community in the mid-1900's. In recent years, though, his theories have been proven by medical research. Dr. Pauling's name has become synonymous with Vitamin C, and mainstream medicine has begun to find evidence of the immense connection between nutrition and health.

What Vitamin C Supplement Does Peaceful Planet Recommend?

Whole Food Vitamin C Supplement

Our absolute favorite whole food Vitamin C supplement is Catie's Vitamin C Plus, which comes in powder form. It is delicious, all natural, and made from REAL VITAMIN C. The first ingredient is the CamuCamu fruit, the earth's highest Vitamin C-potency fruit. Whether mixed with water, juice, or scooped into one of our delicious smoothie recipes, the concentrated fruit and vegetable blend will start your day with a burst of energy. We are confident that it is the most natural, potent source of Vitamin C that you can use to supplement your diet. You can feel confident that you are using a product that is free from preservatives, chemicals, and GMO. Good for you. Good for the planet.

What Catie's Vitamin C Dose Should I Take?

The US RDA for Vitamin C is 60 mg.

The recommended dose of Catie's Vitamin C Plus is 1T, which has 150 mg of Vitamin C.

We recommend taking Catie's Vitamin C Plus any time of the day, with or without a meal. For best results, add a level scoop of powder (1T scoop included) into 12 ounces of water, juice, or your morning smoothie. Stir to completely dissolve the powder. You may want to invest in a shaker for optimum results and an easy-to-transport energy boost, or make a shake or smoothie in your blender.

Are There Any Vitamin C Side Effects?

Taking too much Vitamin C (thousands of milligrams more than the recommended dose) can result in diarrhea or stomach upset. It is not harmful to long-term health, since the GI upset will quickly subside when the dosage is cut back down. There are no other known side effects to Vitamin C supplementation. The real risk comes from Vitamin C deficiency, which is a growing problem.

Catie's Vitamin C Plus

1 Serving 150mg =27,500mg Synthetic Vitamin C
30 servings per 10oz container
Made from REAL FOOD with REAL VITAMIN C
Ideal for food allergy sufferers
dairy free
egg free
GMO free
soy free
corn free
MSG free
gluten free
Delicious Taste
Pure, Natural Antioxidant Source

by Colleen Russell

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