September's Vitamin C

With the season changing again, people are going to get sick. Should you take Vitamin C? That is a fallback choice for most people I know - the use of Emergen-C (a powder energy drink that contains 1600% of the USDA recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, 416% of the recommended vitamin B₁₂ daily value, and 500% of the recommended vitamin B₆ value based on a 2000 calorie diet. Seems a little excessive don't you think? Whatever is not used will just be urinated out anyway. And a healthy diet ensures one receives their proper usable amount.) Studies have not demonstrated that Vitamin C enhances the immune system during times of illness, although it exists in high concentrations in immune cells. As yet an arbitrary connection.

But really, what is the purpose of ascorbic acid/Vit C? It aids cell oxidation and helps prevent scurvy. Scurvy leads to the formation of brown spots on the skin, spongy gums, and bleeding from mucous membranes. That's kind of gross and would be nice to avoid. But it doesn't mean you need to take it when you feel a cold coming on. Yet maybe ascorbic acid's role as an antioxidant is more valuable - aiding to fight cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic inflammatory diseases, and diabetes. Apparently it is also "pro-oxidant", reducing transition metals in the body.

Vitamin C in it's natural plant forms can be purchased grown or harvested locally. For example:

Plant source	Amount (mg / 100g)
Indian gooseberry	445
Rose hip	426
Blackcurrant	200
Red pepper	190
Chili pepper (red)	144
Parsley	130
Broccoli	90
Loganberry	80
Redcurrant	80
Brussels sprouts	80
Wolfberry (Goji)	73
Elderberry	60
Strawberry		60
Kale		41
Cauliflower		40
Garlic		31
Raspberry		30
Spinach		30
Cabbage raw green		30
Blackberry		21
Potato		20
Tomato, red		13.7
Cranberry		13
Tomato		10
Blueberry		10

Get it in your diet right! The first time!