Vitamin C Revisited

Guest author: Diane Spindler, CTN, PhD, MT, Mountain Holistic Health

Vitamin C is still one of least expensive but most valuable nutrients you can take for health care. C helps with colds and flu, respiratory infections, adrenal and thyroid support, heavy metal toxicities, infertility, diabetes, eye problems, inflammation, asthma, post-surgical support, hypertension and heart disease. Vitamin C helps maintain our collagen for firm, healthy skin as well.

Lets just look at heart disease. According to Dr. Al Sears, a well-known cardiologist, Vitamin C deficiency plays a major role in heart attack and stroke. And, vitamin C therapy can reverse years of accumulated damage to help you:
- Avoid heart disease
- Break-open clogged arteries, clearing dangerous plaque
- Repair life-long damage to arteries and blood vessels
- Drastically reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke

When you lack vitamin C, cracks and lesions form in the walls of your blood vessels. When blood vessels break down, arterial plaques fortify the weakness and "repair" the damage.

But when these arterial plaques become too thick, they block the flow of blood. A lack of blood to the heart triggers a heart attack – and a lack of blood to the brain causes a stroke.

1) Dr. James Enstrom from the University of California studied the vitamin intake of over 11,000 people for 10 years. He found that 300 mg of vitamin C a day reduced risk of heart disease by 50 percent in men and 40 percent in women. The test also revealed that a higher intake of vitamin C boosted life expectancy by 6 years.

2) Dr. GC Willis found that people taking 1,500mg of vitamin C a day for 12 months reversed plaque while those who didn't take vitamin C had worsening plaque.

3) Dr. Tetsuji Yokoyama showed high levels of vitamin C are the most important factor in determining whether people age 40 and over would suffer a stroke later in life.

So how does vitamin C protect you from heart disease and stroke? Vitamin C increases the production of collagen, elastin and other "reinforcement molecules" which support your blood vessels in the same way that iron rods support tall buildings. More collagen means more stability for your 60,000-mile-long system of arteries, veins and capillaries.

Dr. Sears says that for maintenance 3000 mgs of vitamin C a day is recommended. Pregnant women should get at least 6,000-mg per day – and in times of stress or sickness, you can take up to 20,000-mg. A powdered form may be more convenient for larger doses. Vitamin C should be taken throughout the day to bathe your cells in it. You can titer the dosage by how loose your stools get. Too much C will loosen, not enough will keep you bound up. 500 to 1000 mg at a time is usually the right dose

Natural verses synthetic sources or supplements of Vitamin C are best. Citrus fruits like lemons, limes grapefruit and oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, kiwi fruit, sweet red peppers and more. If you buy a vitamin C supplement just make sure it is of a whole food source. There are several to choose from in your health food store. I have a company I like to order through for my clients as well and you are free to contact me about this source or any other questions or concerns.

Dr. Diane Spindler has 20 years of experience in Microbiology and Biochemical research. Her continued education in related fields combined with a passion for healing inspired her to open her practice "Mountain Holistic Health, Inc." in Indian Hills, Colorado in 1996. Dr. Di is a Licensed and Certified Traditional Naturopath with a PhD in Nutrition. Diane offers Hormone, Neurotransmitter, Allergy, Immune and Extensive Blood Testing and Analysis to her clients along with many other health service modalities. Her services are available locally and long distance. To contact Dr. Diane call 303-697-1736 or diane@mountainholistic.com and www.mountainholistic.com