Vitamin C

If an individual could choose only one vitamin to take supplementally, it should be vitamin C. Unfortunately, in today’s age it isn’t easy to get the vitamin C we need by eating traditional food sources of this nutrient. Even so, many people believe that by eating a helping or two of fresh fruit every day, they are protecting themselves from becoming vitamin C deficient. This is not necessarily true. Furthermore, even though commercial orange juice is thought to be an excellent source of vitamin C, it may contain little or none. That’s because cooking, pasteurization, and storage, as well as the addition of synthetic chemicals, destroy much of the vitamin C naturally found in citrus drinks.

Americans live in a world contaminated with a wide range of toxins, and these toxins, whether in the air, water, or food, all destroy vitamin C. What’s more, the standard American diet is typically vitamin C deficient. and this is particularly true for those who consume significant amounts of deep fried food, sugar infested food, and/or junk food. Since the majority of Americans follow such a diet, the fact that over 60% or more of Americans receive less than the RDA for this nutrient should come as no surprise.

Prolonged vitamin C deficiency may result in degenerative changes within a number of tissues, including the joints, spine, spleen, thymus, ;lymph glands, liver, adrenal glands, ovaries, heart, arteries, veins, testes, and thyroid gland. Vitamin C deficiency may occur within the white blood cells, and this leads to a significant reduction in their microbial killing power. A lack of it also causes a reduction in interferon synthesis, and this chemical is the body’s most crucial anti-viral compound.

While scurvy is uncommon today, low level vitamin C deficit affects millions of Americans. Those at highest risk for vitamin C deficiency include:

patients taking anticoagulants

patients who regularly consume cortisone

patients in chronic pain who consume large amounts of pain killers

cigarette smokers, their children, and their spouses

chewing tobacco users

alcoholics and drug addicts

nursing home occupants

individuals on long term antibiotic therapy

individuals taking aspirin on a daily or weekly basis

Certain individuals are at a high risk for developing vitamin C deficiency as a result of working around or with noxious compounds. A wide range of compounds destroys or inactivates vitamin C, whether these compounds come in contact with the skin, are ingested internally, or are inhaled (volatile compounds). A list of some of the workers exposed to vitamin C destroying substance includes:

tanning salon employees

gas station attendants

beauticians

chemical and nuclear plant employees

nuclear waste disposal employees

paper mill workers

miners

truck driver and heavy equipment operators

oil and gas refinery employees

employees of synthetic fiber and/or carpet plants

farmers who work closely with toxic compounds

dry cleaners

pressmen

water/sewage treatment plant employees

roofers and road asphalt/tar crews

plastic factory employees

carpet and/or tile installers

airline mechanics and round crews

flight attendants and airline pilots

clerks in airports (due to toxic fumes liberated by jets)

rubber/tire manufacturing plant employees

battery plant employees

furniture refinishers

However, despite this extensive problem of toxic chemical exposure, vitamin C deficiency is common in the United States primarily for another reason: the food supply. Less than five percent of the daily caloric intake for Americans comes from fresh uncooked foods. As indicated previously, citrus fruits, unless eaten directly from the tree, are not necessarily vitamin C-rich. Most commercial grapefruits, oranges, and tangerines are picked green and ripened in large warehouses. Incredibly, the ripening agent is bromine gas, which is such a noxious chemical that if it is inhaled in sufficient amounts, it can main or kill. In contrast, sunlight is a nontoxic ripening agent which dramatically increases the synthesis of vitamin C within the fruit. thus, because citrus fruits are not tree-ripened, their vitamin C content is reduced significantly. In some instances these fruits contain no measurable amount of this nutrient. What little vitamin C they may originally possess is destroyed by the gas ripening process as well as by the various fumigants and pesticides that are applied to the fruit prior to shipment. Add to this vitamin losses during transport and storage plus the fact that fluorescent light destroys vitamin C, and it can be readily understood that it is possible to purchase citrus fruits devoid of vitamin C.

Gas ripening is so widely practiced by the commercial food/produce industry that only locally grown and/or organic produce can be relied upon as a guaranteed way to receive optimal amounts of dietary vitamin C, that is the amounts listed on food charts. Another option would be to pick your own wild berries and/or fruits or maintain your own fruits trees. However, that’s impractical for the vast majority of Americans. Thus, vitamin C supplements must be utilized to fill the void.

To make matter worse, Americans are being routinely exposed to a wide range of vitamin C depleting substances, through a process known as oxidation. these oxidative agents include:

Coffee, sulfites, nitrates, cortisone, antibiotics, aspirin, Indocin, Motrin, Voltarin, or Clinoril, radiation treatments, antihistamines, smoke from burning wood, carbon monoxide, chemotherapeutic agents, glue vapors, x-rays, refined sugar, radioactive dyes, cleansers and degreasers, black tea, MSG, food dyes (synthetic), birth control pills, cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoke, pesticides, smoked foods, chewing tobacco, natural gas, inorganic iron, exhaust fumes, paint vapors, micro-waves.

As previously indicated millions of American receive less than the RDA of vitamin C in their diets. In addition, the dietary habits of Americans, as well as the environments they live in, expose them to a number of substance which destroy vitamin C. Yet, of all vitamin C antagonists cigarette smoke takes precedence; some 25 million Americans are heavy smokers. Cigarette smoke destroys vitamin C essentially at a more rapid rate than it can be consumed. The smoke from a single cigarette may consume as much as 40 mg of vitamin C. A pack wipes out approximately 700 mg: three packs, 2,00 mg. Virtually no one in this country consumes enough dietary vitamin C to neutralize that many cigarettes. Thus, smokers, even without considering any other vitamin C destroying factor, suffer from an extremely dangerous condition: totally negative vitamin C status, a condition which leaves them vulnerable to a wide range of severe illnesses, including lung infections, systemic infections, liver disease, blood vessel fragility, heart disease, emphysema, connective tissue breakdown, and, of course, cancer. What’s more, most smokers consume large amounts of coffee, refined sugar, and alcohol, all of which oxidize vitamin C.

Passive smokers fair little better. Those who are in the same room with cigarette smokers lose untold millions of molecules of vitamin C every time smokers light up.

Let’s look at another example: the business executive who has a high stress job. Stress causes vitamin C to become rapidly consumed within the body and also leads to its loss into the urine. Without vitamin C the body fails to produce enough adrenalin, adrenal steroids, neurotransmitters, and similar substances which maintain normal cellular functions. The preliminary manifestation of this is fatigue. This forces the executive to pursue uppers; he/she uses sugar fixes, coffee, tea, cigarettes, alcohol, and even drugs in a attempt to achieve quick remedies for the tiredness. The morning begins with a cup of black coffee and s sweet roll: a zero vitamin C breakfast. The refined sugar in the sweet roll and the various chemicals in the coffee destroy whatever vitamin C exists in the body. Thus, the executive starts the day with a negative C balance, a nutritionally disastrous circumstance.

To make matter worse, the executive arrives at the job only to enter a smoke filled room. Next, he/she attends a mid morning conference, which happens to be a particularly stressful one. In addition to the cigarette smoke which permeates the air, there is a tray of doughnuts, cookies, and plenty of piping hot coffee. He/she belts down another cup of coffee and half a doughnut The vitamin C deficit deepens. Now the executive starts to develop the symptoms of a migraine but thinks it is stress induced (it is probably due to sugar, coffee, or smoke allergy). Worrying that it might become severe and force him/her to leave work, the executive opts a couple of aspirin. What little vitamin C is left in the tissues is now thoroughly decimated. By noon the pain deepens; perhaps eating will make it feel better, he/she presumes. The executive orders a submarine sandwich with French fries and covers the sub and fries with ketchup. The sub contains salami, a nitrated meat. Nitrates aggressively oxidize vitamin C. Then ingests another dose of aspirin and fellows the sub with a cup of coffee. Immediately after lunch, sinus pressure develops; he/she swallows couple antihistamines, another drug which destroys vitamin C. To their surprise, the headache is worse, not better. What’s more, the executive is now overwhelmed with severe fatigue, and a sort of internal agitation. Migraine pain, fatigue, agitation, and stuffy sinuses all add up to prompt this person to leave work early. This is despite consuming six aspirin, which failed to curb the pain.

Even though the executive is now in the relaxing confines of home, he/she feels overwhelmed because of the stress at work and the stress of the sinus pressure and migraine. The executive was previously informed by a medical professional that alcohol helps digestion. Since his/her stomach is tied in knots, he/she drinks a couple of shots of bourbon before the evening meal. He/she continue to feel miserable, picks at supper, grabs a glass of milk, takes another antihistamine and three more aspirin, then retires for the night: sick, tired, miserable, in pain, stressed, and totally deficient in vitamin C.

Since the migraine will likely continue into the next day or for several additional days, these extreme dietary and drug habits will also be repeated. No one should be surprised if such an individual suddenly drops dead from a heart attack, suffers a stroke, develops a life threatening bleeding ulcer, or is afflicted with some other severe disease. No one should be shocked if this type of person develops cancer at a young age. Just as vitamin C is destroyed by these dangerous habits, other crucial anti stress and anti cancer nutrients, which include vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin E, B-vitamins, selenium, magnesium and calcium, are also depleted.

The extent of vitamin C deficiency in America can be illustrated by viewing some sample menus. The following list typical menus for American adults, teenager, and children

Adult’s Menus

Breakfast - Bacon and eggs; Commercial cereal sweetened with sugar, Skim milk, Glass of orange juice (20 mg vitamin C)

Lunch- Hot dog with bun, ketchup, mustard, and sweet relish, French fries, Fudge sickle ( 0 vitamin C)

Snack – Can of pop (caffeinated) ( 0 vitamin C)

Dinner – Steak cooked well done, Instant mashed potatoes, White bread with butter, Salad made from iceberg lettuce and tomato wedges with French dressing, Apple pie ala mode, Cup of coffee with sugar added ( 7 mg vitamin C)

This is an example of a typical middle class American family menu. The individuals of this family only received 27 mg of vitamin C, and this daily ration is less than the FRA. However, as with most American families, the diet contains significant amounts of refined sugars, food additives, caffeinated beverages, junk foods, and refined flours. All of these substances oxidize vitamin C. Individuals who follow this type of diet will develop a negative vitamin C balance, unless their diets are supplemented with several hundred milligrams of vitamin C each day and/or they consume large helpings of fresh, organically raise fruits with every meal. In this example there are no fresh fruits or vegetables in the menu. The final score is a follows:

a) Coffee: steals 5 mg

b)Sugar (20tsp per day): steals 20 mg

c) Miscellaneous food additives: steal 10 mg

d) Inorganic iron ( in flour products): steal 20 mg

e) Exhaust fumes (from driving to and from work): steal 20 mg

Total Negatives: -75 mg

Total Positives: 27 mg Grand Total: -48 mg

The following a menu typical for today’s teenage:

Teenager’s Menu

Breakfast – none or can of pop and leftover piece of pizza or Bowl of sugar-sweetened cereal with skim milk/ or 2% (0 vitamin C)

Snack – Ho-H0, Twinkie, or some comparable cake (0 vitamin )

Lunch – Hamburger with fries (ketchup and onions), Chocolate shake (0 vitamin C)

Snack – Apple (15 mg vitamin C)

Dinner – Roast beef (well done), Baked potato with margarine, Canned corn, Orange juice drink (artificial flavors and colors) ( 25 mg vitamin C)

this teenager smokes (one half pack per day), resulting in a loss of 450 mg of vitamin C. His/her diet is high in sugar, and this causes the oxidation of 50 mg. the white flour, with its inorganic iron content, causes a loss of 20 mg. Add to this the typical loss from environmental toxins and exhaust fumes and the total negatives are:

Total Negatives: -540 mg

Total Positives: +40 Grand Total: -500 mg

Now let’s look at a typical menu for American children:

Child’s Menu

Breakfast – Cereal containing sugar (ascorbic acid added), Skim milk, Glass of apple juice (7 mg vitamin C)

Snack – Cookies, Glass of milk (0 vitamin C)

Lunch – Sloppy Joe with dill pickle slices, French fries, Kool-aid, Small orange (12 mg vitamin C)

Snack – Candy bar, can of pop (0 vitamin C)

Dinner – Spaghettios, Canned corn, Piece of bake chicken, Chocolate cake, Glass of milk (0 vitamin C)

Incredibly, the total vitamin C intake for the child in this example is a pitiful 19 mg, which is barely one third of the RDA. To make matter worse, this child is consuming a number substance which oxidize vitamin C, including sugar, inorganic iron, bleacher flour, food dyes, artificial flavors, caffeine, MSG, and toxic oil ( in the French fries). All told, these noxious agents destroy approximately 60 mg of vitamin C, fully wiping out the daily intake. In addition, the child’s parents smoke freely both in the home and car. Add another –50 mg, and the negative vitamin C balance for this day becomes –91 mg.

Total Negatives: -110 mg

Total Positives: +19 mg Grand Total: -91

In contrast, here is a example of a menu rich in vitamin C:

Menu

Breakfast – 2 poached eggs, lightly cooked, Bowl of oatmeal (not overdone) with raisins or black currents, Milk or cream, ½ grapefruit, distilled water

( 65 mg vitamin C)

Lunch – Fresh vegetable sticks (carrots, red peppers, zucchini and/or celery, All natural cheese dip (with non-irradiated spices added), Poached salmon topped with lemon-butter sauce, capers, and pink peppercorns, rose hip herbal tea (130 mg vitamin C)

Snack – Nectarine and glass of distilled water (10 mg vitamin C)

Dinner – Salad made of fresh dark greens, including romaine lettuce, spinach, green onions, and watercress (extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice dressing), Roast beef done medium rare, Baked potato with butter, Steamed broccoli, Bowl of fresh fruits (strawberries, kiwi fruit, and blue berries)*

* ( fruit should always be eaten 20 to 30 minutes before other foods) (180 mg vitamin C)

The only negative factor affecting vitamin C status in this example is the unavoidable inhalation of pollutants and exhaust fumes that occurs in a typical day.

Total Negatives: -20 mg

Total Positives: +385 mg Grand Total: +365 mg

Vitamin C is found in a wide range of foods but is readily destroyed by cooking. top food sources include rose hips, citrus fruits, spices, bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries, guavas, Brussels sprouts, currents, and dark green leafy vegetables.

Which of these apply to you?

1. easy bruising

2. bleeding and/or purple appearing gums

3. lower back pain

4. arthritis or other joint pain

5. delayed wound healing

6. loose teeth

7. chronic fatigue

8. sensitive to extremes in temperature

9. thinning of the bones

10. nosebleeds

11. thinning and /or premature aging of the skin

12. liver spots

13. petechiae (tiny red blood spots in the skin)

14. heightened susceptibility to infections

15. hemorrhoids

16. insomnia

17. dryness of the mouth

18. dry, itching skin

19. swollen joints

20. loss of appetite

21. listlessness and/or apathy

22 depression

23. tendency to form plaque and/or tartar

24. do you regularly consume aspirin?

25. Do you regularly take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such a Motrin, Indocin, Clinoril, or Butazolidin?

26. Do you regularly consume birth control pills?

27. Do you take antibiotics on a daily or weekly basis?

28. Are you exposed to excessive quantities of chemical or exhaust fumes while on the job or during your travels?

29. Do you eat a limited quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables?

30. Do you currently use cocaine, crack, or heroin, or have you used such drugs for prolonged periods in the past?

31. do you currently consume marijuana, or have you consumed it for prolonged periods in the past?

32. Are you a cigarette smoker?

33. Are you exposed to passive (second hand) smoke on a regular basis?

34. do you easily injure your joints, muscles, or tendons?

35. Do you take cortisone or apply cortisone cream on a daily or weekly basis?

366. Do you suffer from learning or reading impairment?

37. Do you have a history of hardening of the arteries?

38. Do you work in or near a nuclear facility/power plant, or are you exposed on a monthly basis to x-rays?

39. do you see spots (floater) in your eyes?

40. do you have a history of degenerative joint disease?

41. do you suffer from growing pains (children/adolescents)?

42. Do you have deep pain in the bones and/or joints?

Your Score _________

1 to 7 points Mild vitamin C deficiency: The symptoms of vitamin C deficiency are often vague. However, to be on the safe side take 500 mg of vitamin C twice daily and increase the consumption of foods rich in vitamin C.

8 to 16 points Moderate vitamin C deficiency: Even with a moderate deficiency of vitamin C, collagen production is adversely affected. this leads to skin aging and cellulite production. Take 1,000 mg of vitamin C three times daily. Increase the intake of foods rich in vitamin C. Avoid refined sugar and reduce the intake of caffeine and alcohol. If you are a smoker, it is critical that you quit now in order to prevent further tissue damage.

17 to 26 points Severe vitamin C deficiency: At this level of deficiency a wide range of degenerative disease may occur. These disease include cancer, heart disease, arthritis, lupus, diabetes, and lung disease. Smokers must understand that if they don’t stop their destructive habits now, they may ultimately develop cancer or heart disease. Or, they may be stricken with a severe debilitating lung disease such as emphysema. Follow the previously mentioned dietary advice and take 1.000 mg of vitamin C four times daily.

27 and above Extreme vitamin C deficiency: Warning- damage to critical internal organs is imminent unless the vitamin C deficiency is corrected. Take 2,000 mg of vitamin C four times daily. The frequent dosage is necessary to maintain consistently high blood levels. If the symptoms of vitamin C deficiency persist, increase the dosage to 3.000 mg four times daily. consume large helpings of foods rich in vitamin C and strictly avoid all substances which destroy it. Be aware that at this dosage, innocuous side effects are possible, namely flatulence and loose stools. If you develop these symptoms, reduce the dosage until bowel function normalizes.