Vitamin C should be fairly available from a healthy diet fruits and vegetables, but it is more common than we think to be deficient, and in some cases we have health factors that make us need extra.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), cannot be synthesized by humans and other primates, and has to be obtained from diet.
Vitamin C is essential for fifteen mammalian enzymes, for instance two of the most important ones for the transport of salt through our physiology
Vitamin C concentrations are dependent on amount taken in, the form it is in for the body’s use, how much is excreted through the kidneys, and how much the body has used, bioavailability, renal excretion, and utilization.
Deficiency in Vitamin C can be detected by testing the levels in our blood stream. However, anormal blood level of this vitamin may not mean you have as much as you currently need. Vitamin C is essential for fifteen mammalian enzymes, for instance two of the most important ones for the transport of salt through our physiology. Vitamin C can be less available as there are potential disruptions of our vitamin C nutrition by common health concerns and dietary mistakes. Thus, specialized tissue level tests may be more accurate. We use the Metabolomix test.
Vitamin C is used for healing. Healing can be post-surgery or post illness.. Also, consider how your muscles ‘heal’ after a long workout: that will make you need extra Vitamin C. Metanalysis shows a minimum of shortening of the symptoms of a cold, but not specifically URI prevention.
If you are exercising a lot, if you have recently had a medical procedure, or sustained an injury you need extra Vitamin C
Important for fighting infections, cancers, and repairing and healing after an injury is Vitamin C. Your body will burn through it’s usual C supplies if you have had any recent illness or health issue.
Not only will adequate vitamin C help the healing, it helps fight the inflammation that causes pain. With the keeping your body from being deficient in vitamin C you can help reduce pain medication use.
Aspirin increases the secretion of vitamin C and thus reduces the ability of your cells to grab and use the vitamin C, thus taking extra aspirin may just send your C into the urine. Common causes of interfering with levels and function of vitamin C are: contraceptives, estrogen hormone use, smoking, tetracycline antibiotic.
Vitamin C and Hormone interactions
Vitamin C also helps oxytocin, (the hormone of ‘love’ and of lactation) and other hormones function well.
Long term extra Vitamin C has been shown to protect your eyes, both macular degeneration and cataracts are less likely if you get enough.
Vitamin C is NOT recommended for prevention of preeclampsia. In fact both Vitamin C and E increased the risks of preeclampsia.
Women who haven’t had their vitamin C levels checked might think about getting them measured. This can be measured by a blood level test or a functional tissue test at Women’s Health Practice.
