The powers that Vitamin C has over fighting influenza and swine flu:
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects against infection and enhances immunity.
The daily suggested dosage of Vitamin C is about 100-200mg 2-3 times a day for adults. When faced with such stressors adults can take 500-1000mg 3 times a day. For severe cases such as the onset of influenza that ill person can take 500-1000mg every 2 hours. Its important that you stick to the normal recommended dosage and then only when faced with illness increase to the higher levels. Only on the onset of environmental stress such as trauma, fever or infection should you take higher dosages of Vitamin C supplement otherwise you can run the risk of Vitamin C overdose.
1-3yrs old, 15mg normal dosage/ 400mg onset of illness dosage per day
4-8yrs old, 25mg normal dosage/ 650mg onset of illness dosage per day
9-13yrs old, 45mg normal dosage/ 1200mg onset of illness dosage per day
14-7yrs old, 65-75mg normal dosage/ 1800-2000mg onset of illness dosage per day
18yrs old and older, 80-85mg normal dosage/ 2000-3000mg onset of illness dosage per day
Pregnant women, 80-85mg normal dosage/ 1800-2000mg onset of illness dosage per day
Breast-feeding women, 115-120mg normal dosage/ 1800-2000mg onset of illness dosage per day
Vitamin C Overdose mostly comes by taking high levels of lab made or lab manipulated Vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid and the like. Overdose can cause diarrhea, gas, stomach upset and cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. The more major overdose conditions that come with vitamin C overdose are developing kidney stones, Vitamin B12 and copper deficiencies, and also the increased need for oxygen. Pregnant mothers taking 5000-6000mg or more of Vitamin C can possibly subject their babies to develop rebound scurvy. People that have iron overload diseases need to avoid Vitamin C overdose since it increases the absorption of iron. Patients with Hemochromatosis should not take extra Vitamin C either due to the accumulation of nonheme iron in the presence of vitamin C. Long term problems caused by vitamin C overdose includes: acute right sided conjunctivitis, kidney disease, diabetes, and hypoglycemia.
The absolute best Vitamin C to take is naturally occurring Vitamin C in the form of whole foods or whole food botanical supplements. One would need to ask themselves. Where in nature do you find "ascorbic acid"? The answer is nowhere. Most companies use chemical ascorbic acid that mimics real Vitamin C. Now again on the onset of influenza however by all means you can take those dosages of Vitamin C(ascorbic acid), but just for that time.
Natural ways to get Vitamin C is in camu camu berry, acerola cherry, rhus coriana, rose hip, indian gooseberry (amla fruit), and hibiscus. These botanicals are rich in Vitamin C and you can get them in capsule form if you like.
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