Vitamin C Supplements in Greenland, NH
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient that helps in the growth and repair of tissues in your body as well as in the production of collagen, an important protein used to create skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. Vitamin C is necessary for healing wounds, as well as for repairing and maintaining bones and teeth. As a water-soluble vitamin, vitamin C does not naturally occur in the body, and rather, you normally get the vitamin C you need by adopting a balanced diet which incorporates vitamin C, such as foods like citrus fruits, broccoli and tomatoes.
If you become the victim of a vitamin C deficiency, you may suffer a variety of worrisome problems including:
- Poor immune function
- Increased susceptibility to bruising and slow wound healing
- Swollen, bleeding or inflamed gums
- Rough, red skin
- Dry or splitting hair and nails
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight gain
- Frequent nose bleeds
- Swollen and painful joints
- Depression
An extreme vitamin C deficiency is considered scurvy, a disease with historical tracings to wayward sea voyagers (such as pirates) whose diet and lifestyle led to a dearth of vitamin C. In instances of scurvy, sufferers experience general weakness, anemia, gum disease and skin hemorrhages.
Often, to improve vitamin C levels, nutritional counseling is suggested to help recommend vitamin C-rich foods to incorporate into the diet. When dietary intervention to counteract a deficiency in vitamin C fails, however, vitamin C supplements are available to restore your body's ascorbic acid levels more rapidly. To schedule a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider in Greenland that can discuss and recommend specific vitamin C supplements to you, call (207) 536-9661 or contact Dr. Johanna Mauss online.
Vitamin C Benefits
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin found in certain foods, drinks and dietary supplements. Humans are unable to synthesize vitamin C, so it is essential to consume it to maintain healthy levels. Drinking your daily orange juice, or adding oranges to your daily fruit regimen, can help boost your body's natural function. But why? It traces its power from its vitamin C content. As an antioxidant, vitamin C has the potential to protect against free radicals as well as to promote brain health. A number of additional vitamin C benefits have been recognized by the medical community, including its potential to:
- Boost immunity
- Promote healthy skin and collagen formation (which aids in naturally slowing aging)
- Maintain healthy gums
- Maintain healthy inflammation in the body
- Assist in the absorption of minerals such as iron
- Lower stress levels
- Improve physical performance
Vitamin C Supplements: When Diet Doesn't Cut It
If you find dietary measures are not sufficient in achieving healthy vitamin C levels, vitamin C supplements are available and can be discussed with your healthcare provider. Natural vitamin C supplements are available and come in many forms including tablets, capsules, chewables, powdered crystalline, effervescent and liquids. Supplements with lowered or buffered potency are also available which can accommodate an irritable stomach or those who are prone to heartburn.
Typically, vitamin C supplements come in doses ranging from 25-1,000mg. These supplements are usually to be taken 2-3 times daily, with meals, depending on the dosage, while some studies suggest a 250-500mg vitamin C supplement to be taken twice a day. The recommended daily intake for vtamin C, according to the National Academy of Sciences, is as follows:
Pediatric
- Birth - 6 months: 40 mg (Adequate intake)
- Infants 6 - 12 months: 50 mg (Adequate intake)
- Children 1 - 3 years: 15 mg
- Children 4 - 8 years: 25 mg
- Children 9 - 13 years: 45 mg
- Adolescent girls 14 - 18 years: 65 mg
- Adolescent boys 14 - 18 years: 75 mg
Adult
- Men over 18 years: 90 mg
- Women over 18 years: 75 mg
- Pregnant women 14 - 18 years: 80 mg
- Pregnant women over 18 years: 85 mg
- Breastfeeding women 14 - 18 years: 115 mg
- Breastfeeding women over 18 years: 120 mg
It is important to note that not all vitamin C supplements are made of the same quality, deriving from a variety of sources. It is thus equally important to discuss vitamin C supplementation with your healthcare provider, who can recommend proper supplements for patients on a case-by-case basis. Your healthcare provider can also discuss variables such as if you are a smoker or have a preexisting health condition as they relate to your recommended intake. For instance, if you have lower levels of vitamin C, your recommended dosage will likely be higher. Doses will also likely change if you are suffering an illness like the cold.
To schedule a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider in Greenland who can discus vitamin C benefits with you as well as your recommended dosing, call (207) 536-9661 or contact Dr. Johanna Mauss online.
Vibrant Health Natropathic Medical Center
Address
3 Riverside DriveGreenland, NH 03840
(207) 536-9661
vibranthealthnaturalmedicine.com/
Hours
Mon:
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tue:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wed:
10:30 am - 5:00 pm
Thu:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fri:
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sat:
Closed
Sun:
Closed