Vitamin C is an essential part of every human's daily life. It helps maintain and form the body's cartilage, teeth and bones, as well as helps heal wounds. According to Dr. Warwick Carter, there is no evidence that supports the facts that vitamin C treats or prevents the common cold. Every individual is different when it comes to the effects of vitamin C.
Vitamin C and Colds
According to The Complete Family Medical Guide, 3000 California residents were studied regarding the amount of vitamin C intake and their sicknesses. After being studied and followed for ten years, these certain individuals had the same rate of illnesses that an individual had who was not taking vitamin C.
It may be possible to ward off a cold when vitamin C is taken at the beginning of any cold symptoms, but it is still not proven. Studies do show that individuals, children especially, that have a daily vitamin C intake have shorter sicknesses than those who do not take vitamin C daily. However, most individuals that start taking the vitamin C after the initial symptoms will not see a shorter time span of sickness.
Researchers show that individuals who take around 8000 milligrams of vitamin C on the first day of showing symptoms have gotten better faster. Overall, vitamin C intake can help a sickness depending on:
- the individual
- the amount of vitamin C intake
- the start of symptoms and intake of vitamin C
It has been proven by Dr. Warwick Carter that athletes who took a daily intake of vitamin C got sick 50% less than people around them who were not prone to indulging in the vitamin. There is such a thing as taking too much vitamin C. For women, a large vitamin C intake can cause an increase in blood levels of estrogen, which can cause tenderness in the breasts, and irregular menstrual cycles. During a pregnancy, if the mother takes too much it can cause the child to get rebound scurvy. An overabundance of vitamin C intake may also cause a higher chance of kidney stones, anemia or a reduction of B12.
Vitamin C Benefits
Although vitamin C can help decrease the length of a sickness, there are other beneficial reasons to intake the vitamin. Other than the obvious, vitamin C is healthy and good for the body, reasons to keep taking the vitamin are:
- It helps prevent bacterial complications and secondary viral complications.
- Vitamin C protects against heart disease and cancer.
- Individuals who take more than 750 mg a day decrease their risk of dying early on from a disease.
- Large doses, such as 1000-2000 mg a day, have shown to reduce asthmatic symptoms in individuals.
Researchers have found that individuals who suffer from heart disease, asthma, diabetes or arthritis have a lower amount of vitamin C in their bodies than other individuals do. There are also vitamin C supplements that can be taken. The recommended dose of vitamin C is 1000 mg a day, but if a person is sick then more can be taken. It is best to not exceed 500 mg in one dose, but instead spread them out throughout the day.
Sources:
"Vitamin C and Colds".www.health.learninginfo.org.
"Vitamin C: Your Ultimate Health Insurance" by Hans R. Larsen, MSc ChE.www.yourhealthbase.com
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