Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, has many vital roles in the body, and so it is needed in relatively large amounts. Fresh fruit and vegetables all contain ascorbic acid, the commonest dietary sources being potatoes, green vegetables, oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. The acerola cherry is particularly high in its ascorbic acid content as are blackcurrant and rosehip extracts.

What it does for us:

• Plays a primary role in the formation of collagen, which is important for the growth and repair of all body tissue cells, gums, blood vessels, bones and teeth.
• Helps to fight off infection.
• Heals wounds, burns and bleeding gums
• Accelerates healing after surgery
• It is an anti-oxidant and assists in the absorption of iron from food.
• It assists in the synthesis of the hormones of the adrenal glands.
• Helps in decreasing blood cholesterol
• Acts as a natural laxative
• It can aid in preventing many types of viral and bacterial infection.
• Contributes to haemoglobin and red blood cell production in bone marrow.
• It can help lower the incidence of blood clots in veins.
• Aids in treatment and prevention of the common cold
• Prevents scurvy, the deficiency disease
• Decreases infection by 25% and cancers by 75% if taken in 100mg to 10,000mg daily dosage, according to Dr Linus Pauling.

It is a water soluble vitamin and can not be stored or manufactured in the body, so we rely entirely on our dietary intake of this vital vitamin. We use it up very quickly in stressful 20^th century conditions. The RDA is 45mg and above for adults, up to 80mg for women if pregnant or breast feeding.

Those over 55, those who smoke (each cigarette destroys 25mg); those who abuse alcohol and other drugs; anyone who has just gone through surgery; anyone with burns; those on an inadequate diet; pregnant and feeding women; those on the pill or taking ginseng supplement. Bioflavonoids always naturally accompany Vitamin C in foods and help its assimilation in the body. Therefore the best supplements are those that contain the complete C complex of Bioflavonoids, Hesperedin & Rutin sometimes labelled citrus salt)

Daily doses most often used are 500mg to 4g.