| Overview
Vitamin C is well known as the immune system vitamin. It is also a powerful antioxidant that fights oxidative damage.
The human body does not produce vitamin C, so all of this important nutrient's requirements must be obtained through our diet, which is frequently deficient in vitamins. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, environmental pollutants and food-processing techniques can impact the level of vitamin C in our body. In addition, vitamin C is not stored in the body, so it must be replaced daily.
According to Health Canada, the minimum and intake limit are as follows:
| Minimum dose for all ages: |
20 mg/day |
| Upper Limit for Infants: |
0-12 months - Not established; source of intake should be from formula and food only |
| Upper Limit for Children: |
1-3 years - 400 mg/day
4-8 years - 650 mg/day
9-13 years - 1200 mg/day |
| Upper Limit for Adolescents: |
14-18 years - 1800 mg/day |
| Upper Limit for Pregnancy and Lactation: |
14-18 years - 1800 mg/day
19 years and older - 2000 mg/day |
| Upper Limit for Adults: |
19 years and older - 2000 mg/day |
| http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/applications/licen-prod/monograph/mono_vitamin_c_e.html |
If your lifestyle and environment (such as stress, smoking, environmental pollutants and food-processing techniques) deprive your body of this needed nutrient, each Bio-C tablet contains 300 mg of vitamin C to help bridge the gap. Bio-C also includes citrus bioflavonoids to promote intracellular levels of vitamin C.
Althought vitamin C is widely touted for benefiting the immune system, it also offers significant benefits for cardiovascular function. First, it aids in the production of collagen and elastin, which are the reinforcement rods of the body. Clinical evidence suggests that the lack of adequate amounts of vitamin C over a period of years results in a breakdown of the collagen and elastin structure of the blood vessel walls. This breakdown leads to tiny, microscopic cracks or fissures in the walls. Cholesterol globules, surrounded by sticky lipoprotein (a) molecules, lodge in these cracks forming a sort of natural "plaster cast" to prevent blood leakage. This natural repair system eventually overshoots and the buildup of atherosclerotic deposits results. These fat deposits in the arteries of the heart can cause serious cardiovascular events.
FAQ
Q. My multivitamin contains vitamin C. Why do I need to take Bio-C in addition to a multivitamin?
A. Most multivitamins offer a number of beneficial nutrients. To provide the variety and quantity of vitamin C offered in Bio-C, a multivitamin would be too large to swallow easily. Multivitamins are beneficial, but you can enhance your nutritional program by also including Bio-C.
Q. If I take Bio-C and a multivitamin, will I be consuming too much vitamin C?
A. No. This important nutrient is water-soluble, so your body can naturally eliminate excess supplies. Because of its water-soluble nature, vitamin C must be replaced in your body daily.
Q. In addition to increasing my vitamin C intake through supplements, what are some food sources from which I can obtain beneficial amounts of this nutrient?
A. Many fruits - including oranges, cantaloupe, kiwi, blueberries, strawberries and honeydew melon - are good sources of vitamin C. Red and green bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and tomatoes also contain vitamin C.
|
