Are Vitamin C Supplements Beneficial?

Vitamin C supplements have enjoyed popularity for decades, but recent findings are changing who is taking them and for what reasons. Find out what the latest studies have to say about vitamin C.

What does vitamin C do for you? Vitamin C has long been rumored to shorten the length of a cold (and to prevent colds), but recent studies suggest otherwise. It does, however, lower your vulnerability to heart diease and cancer, which are much more significant than a cold, and it also is hoped to slow eyesight degeneration associated with age.

How should you get your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C? You can get vitamin C from fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits. You can also carefully select beverages and foods that are fortified with vitamin C. Take this into consideration when determining supplemental dosages.

How much vitamin C do you need in a day? Healthy adults should get a minimum of 75 mg and a maximum of 2000 mg a day. Any dose over 2000 mg will put you at risk of undesirable side effects. Talk to your doctor about how much vitamin C your child should get, and make sure you consider age, weight, and how much your child drinks and eats vitamin C fortified drinks and foods. Pregnant women should show extra caution not to exceed recommended amounts, since mega-dosing has been loosely linked with preterm birth and scurvy in newborns.

Should you take vitamin C supplements? Medical experts feel you will get the most out of natural sources of vitamin C, and will get diminshed benefits from taking vitamin C supplements. It seems that our bodies make best use of natural sources of vitamin C, but it’s challenging to eat and drink enough of this nutrient. It may be best to take a vitamin C supplement with food for optimal effects.

For optimal health, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and take a low-dose vitamin C supplement to make up for any gaps.