The Beauty of Vitamin C

My mother, to put it gently, has always been a "health nut". To this day if she thinks I am lacking physically she will gather up bottle after bottle of vitamins and send them my way. I have to admit, she always knows what she is talking about. My mother could write a book on how to stay healthy, the natural cure for every illness - and even how to grow the plants needed to give your body the best nutrition possible.

Granted, she did ruin me for orange juice for many years because I just could not get the taste of cod liver oil out of my mind every time I tried to drink orange juice. I still am not sure what the cod liver oil was for but for many years myself and my 6 siblings would line up for our daily dose added to a glass of orange juice. And milk...well...it just has a whole different texture when brewers yeast is added. In addition to these somewhat mysterious concoctions, every single day of my growing up years, we were never allowed out of the house without one main vitamin - Vitamin C. According to the gospel of Mom....Vitamin C could prevent and cure every disease known and unknown to man! In reality...we were an A,B,C,D, & E kind of family...the most important letters in the alphabet...all wrapped up in nasty little pills a person could taste hours after swallowing.

As kids do, I was hell bent on pure, joyous unhealthy when I left home. If it was bad for me...it definitely went into my body! No more fresh milk, homemade butter and cheese, oatmeal, and handfuls of vitamins for me. Spreadable margarine, cold cereal, cream that might be chemicals masquerading as cream....I used it all. And nothing even closely resembling a vitamin supplement passed through my lips for many years. I fully convinced myself I had a severe allergy to them. It wasn't until two major life awakenings that I finally went full circle back to the wisdom of Mom.

It is amazing how giving birth makes our own mothers so much wiser. When my daughter was born she was very anemic. I too had been born with a rare lack of iron and white blood cells that liked to obliterate reds, a type of genetic Anemia with one of those alien sounding names the medical profession loves to dabble in, resulting in the need for injections, a childhood being forced to eat "high iron" foods I absolutely hated and regular blood tests to monitor my evil white cells. Now, my tiny daughter was anemic, luckily not as severe as I had been...but still dangerously low. Her doctor was adamant she receive more than the average supplements. When she was later diagnosed with not one, but three forms of arthritis, I began a journey of learning the ways of my mother as the modern medications did not appeal and were not a viable option when the side effects were worse in many ways than the disease itself.

My path...led me back to the importance of Vitamin C for our bodies. My mother it turned out...was as usual...right. Even according to the National Library of Medicine, which consistently refuses to acknowledge the use of Vitamin C for colds although studies of people living in extreme climates or extreme exercise conditions have shown a 50% reduced risk of developing a cold when treated with Vitamin C - shows Vitamin C helps treat even my big enemy Anemia by helping the body to absorb iron.

In an article written by Kathleen M. Zelman MPH, RD, LD on WebMd, the author quoted a study published in Seminars in Preventative and Alternative Medicine that showed an increasing amount of benefits to utilizing Vitamin C. Study researcher Mark Moyad MD, MPH from the University of Michigan said "The more we study Vitamin C the better our understanding of how diverse it is in protecting our health, from cardiovascular, cancer, stroke, eye health, (and) immunity to living longer". (I believe his intention was to say to develop immunities which will help us live longer.) Moyad also said the ideal dosage may be higher than the recommended dietary allowance.

Vitamin C has been proven to be a powerful antioxidant and studies have shown it may be effective to protect against certain forms of autoimmune Arthritis - or Rheumatoid Arthritis - for several reasons. One, because it is an antioxidant that fights molecules that can trigger the inflammation, two, because it serves as a cofactor in collagen production and collagen is the main protein in joint and bone tissues, and three - because Vitamin C is important in the bodies fight against infection. Infection is considered to be a contributor to arthritis inflammation.

I could literally cover pages with studies pushing the attributes of Vitamin C but I don't think it is necessary. Instead I can tell you my experiences with my favorite Vitamin. After being diagnosed with an auto immune disease (most likely directly related to my particular blood) and consequently multiple health issues due to the disease...my mother once again started me on a harsh regimen of Vitamins and supplements including large doses of Vitamin C. My health improved drastically and I beat the odds given to me by the doomsayer Doctor. Eventually I was able to limit my supplements but learned I must live my life ever conscious of what I put into my body.

I take all the Vitamin B's, daily collagen capsules, and without fail...my vitamin C. Because I still have an issue with supplements in tablet form, I discovered Emergen-C which includes my other Vitamins and lets me ingest my rather high doses of Vitamin C in a liquid form. If I take my first packet of Emergen-C in the morning, I find I have high energy and a zest for my day. But the true beauty of Vitamin C was something I discovered by accident.

Not only was Vitamin C good for my overall health...but it also is good for my skin. Vitamin C can be absorbed by the skin and there is some evidence it can penetrate the layers of the skin. Its benefits as an antioxidant and as an aid in collagen production have increased its use in the cosmetic and skin care industry. When I discovered this...I decided to give it a try...in a stronger form than a cream would give me. I looked at my glass of Emergen-C one morning and thought "Ahh heck, why not?" So...before drinking it, I poured some onto a wash rag and washed my face with it. The first thing I noticed was a tightening of my skin. Then I noticed my skin looked fresher and had a smoother texture. I figured this could only be a good sign. So, I started a new morning routine, make my Vitamin C drink, use some on face then drink the rest and I saw a drastic improvement in my skin and my wrinkles (okay...so people say they just don't see them but I do!). Now...Vitamin C was a MUST for beauty!

Sometimes, I get lazy or forgetful and I neglect both my ingestion of my Beautiful Vitamin C and consequently the topical use. But all I need to get back on track is to really look at myself in the mirror where I see the sad state of my skin, and realize I am feeling yucky when I start out my day. After only one dose...I feel and looksignificantly better.

I find it befitting that one of the sources of Vitamin C is the Rose Hip. The rose is the most perfect beauty one can imagine and that it can produce a supplement that benefits both our health and our beauty really is not a surprise. It is a constant reminder that nature can provide us with all we need to prosper and shine as human beings, if we only listen, look, and learn. I don't need studies or another human to tell me Vitamin C is good for me...I only need the proof of its effect on my own body. Our bodies tell us many things if we learn to listen. When you crave something...find out what that particular craving supplies and you will know what your body is asking you for. Put your faith in the best Doctor on the planet...your own body, and the best pharmacy...the Earth.

*Note: Even though the studies are still conflicting with each other on whether or not you can get an overdose of Vitamin C, which is a "water soluble" vitamin - most experts say you can safely use up to 1000 mgs a day.

* Emergen-C is a product distributed by Alacer Corp that contains various mineral complexes including but not limited to Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid, zinc ascorbate, and chromium ascorbate) of 1000 mg.

Sources:

Anemia
National Library of Medicine
WebMD
Arthritis