We all know that vitamin C is an important part of a healthy immune system, but its critical role in adrenal function is no less valuable, and far less well known. In addition to its role in hormone production and immune response, Vitamin C also has many other important roles in your body. Vitamin C is water-soluble, so it is quickly processed and eliminatedIt is important to take your vitamin C in smaller (500-1,000mg) doses evenly spaced throughout the day as opposed to one mega-dose. few dangers in taking vitamin C, however you should be aware that if you are taking a therapeutic dose during an illness, it is important to decrease your intake gradually, so your body doesn't develop withdrawl symptoms that mimic scurvy (vitamin C deficiency). important if you are pregnant or nursing, as your baby will have become accustomed to the higher levels of vitamin C as well. way to determine how much vitamin C your body needs is by monitoringWhen your stools become loose and watery (diarrhea-like),
you have reached what is called bowel tolerance, and you can drop your dosage down by 500-1000mg. This diarrhea is temporary and should resolve itself with a reduction in intake, so don't be alarmed.Expect to take anywhere from 2,000mg-5,000mg in a day if you are dealing with adrenal fatigue, and possibly more if you are particularly stressed or feeling under the weather. While actual scurvy is rare in modern countries with well-rounded diets, milder symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include gums that bleed when you brush your teeth, tooth loss, easy bruising of the skin, poor wound healing, and frequent colds or respiratory infections. The Pill, smoking, antidepressants and OTC painkillers all dramatically reduce the level of Vitamin C in your body. Smokers may need to take 25-50% more vitamin C than non-smokers to maintain the same levels in Vitamin C is Ascorbic Acid, which can cause stomach upset, so you should always take a buffered form to neutralize the acid .
Vitamin C supplements include bioflavonoids, which facilitate the absorption of Vitamin C. Look for whole food sources of vitamin C, as well as the "Ester-C" form. Ester-C is a form of Vitamin C that is easy on your stomach and highly effective. C is another option for people who don't like the larger tablets that vitamin C traditionally comes in, and also is reported to alleviate the loose stool issue and stomach upset that can be common with higher doses of vitamin C. By encapsulating the vitamin C in phospholipids, the vitamin C passes directly into your bloodstream without being damaged by the digestive system. Because of this, your body should be utilizing more of what you take in, and you should ultimately not need to take as much as you would of another form to get the same results. Unlike a tablet or capsule, lypospheric vitamin C is a--well, for lack of a better word, goo--that you squeeze into a small glass of water or juice, and swallow.
It does not dissolve or mix into whatever liquid you put it in, it stays in soft globs that you just swallow in theYou don't taste anything besides the carrier liquid as long as you don't hold any of it in your mouth and deliberately try to rub it aroundJust drink your liquid and let the goo slide down the hatch! I like to take vitamin C from several different sources throughout the day, including a multivitamin, an ACES+Zinc combo, and then adding any additional vitamin C as needed. allows me to take the daily maintenance amount with my regular vitamin regimen, and boost my Vitamin C intake by itself when I feel like I'm coming down with something, or when I'm anticipating more stress in myI also LOVE to use a powdered vitamin C drink when I feel a sore throat coming on, because I feel relief almost immediately after swallowing it--there is just something about thatPlus, it's a lot easier to swallow than a handful of pills when you want a larger dose!
Most vitamin C tablets come in 500mg or 1,000mg potencies, and if you are sick and want to take 5,000-10,000mg per day, that's a lot of tablets to choke down... Back to Adrenal Fatigue SupplementsVitamin C may quite possibly be the single most essential anti-stress nutrient. Not only does it offer cellular protection and immune support, but it provides adrenal support to produce more cortisone and epinephrine. The adrenals store the highest concentration of Vitamin C in the body. The more cortisol made in the body, the more vitamin C is used up. The more stress you live in, the more vitamin C your body needs. Vitamin C is water soluble and gets used up quickly by the body, it is imperative to get it in the diet. However, most people do not consume enough for their bodies needs. It really is critical to supplement, especially if you live a stressful life. And we all know, stress is a huge factor in adrenal fatigue. ‘In the adrenal glands the concentration of vitamin C is among the highest in the body, being roughly 100 times that of blood plasma levels.
As such the adrenals are extremely sensitive to inadequacies in vitamin C. In catecholamine synthesis, vitamin C is required as a co-factor in the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine. In humans vitamin C secretion occurs as part of the stress response via hormone regulation, specifically in response to stimulation via the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Utilizing adrenal vein catheterization, it was demonstrated that following ACTH stimulation, the mean adrenal vein vitamin C level increased approximately four fold, and then subsequently returned to near pre-stimulation levels approximately 15 minutes thereafter. Peak ad- renal vitamin C and cortisol concentrations have been strongly correlated, suggesting a local action of vitamin C on the adrenal glands. Additionally, it has been noted that, although being of unknown function, the increase in vitamin C secretion suggests that “adrenal vitamin C secretion is an integral part of the stress response.” Stress, fever and viral infections, as well as habitual actions, such as smoking and alcohol use, cause a rapid decline in the blood level of vitamin C, and the vitamin C requirements tend to be higher in stressed or traumatized persons.’
Supplementing with Vitamin C It’s important to find your own bio-individual dose of vitamin C as everyone will need differing amounts. The more stress you have been under the more you may need. It’s also important to find quality supplements, a lot of ascorbic acid supplements are derived from corn syrup, and some from cane sugar or beet sugar. If you have any sensitivity to corn or sugars, it’s best to avoid these. In order to know what’s in your supplement, you will likely have to call the company and ask directly. I can recommend Biotics Mixed Ascorbates, they are not derived from corn or sugar and are made in a gluten-free facility. (Also, check out Standard Process or Apex Energetics). I am sure there are others out there, you will just have to do the digging to find out what the quality is. Also, it’s important to make sure you are getting adequate bioflavinoids as well. Most ascorbic acid powders do not include bioflavinoids and most supplements in pill form with the combination of c and bioflavinoids are not a high enough dose for some, nor are they the proper ratio.
You want a 2:1 ratio of vitamin C to bioflavinoids. I use a powder mixed ascorbates with a separate citrus bioflavinoid tablet so I can make sure I get the ratio I need. Look for bioflavinoids made from citrus, check to see if they are made in a gluten-free facility and don’t be afraid to call the company to make sure of the source and quality. The last thing you need is a cheap supplement when you are trying to get your body well. Vitamin C -Loading or Calibration Test To find your body’s current vitamin C dose, try the following. Obtain your quality sourced ascorbic acid and bioflavinoids and find a day that you do not have to go out. Take 500 mg of ascorbic acid with 250 mg of bioflavinoids every hour until your bowel movements become loose and runny. Once you reach bowel tolerance, reduce the amount by 500 mg and that is your dose. Over time your body will get to the point where loose bowels are attained, meaning you can then lower your dose again by 500 mg. If you experience excessive gas while trying this try taking the dose with food.
The dose could range from anywhere between 2-4 grams to 15-20 grams for people with severe and chronic stress. Be sure to keep in mind that your body will adapt to the level of vitamin C you are taking, and it is wise to carefully and gradually reduce your intake. If you stop suddenly you can experience symptoms of scurvy. The body takes twice as long to adapt to a decrease in vitamin C as it does any increase, so please keep that in mind. This goes for babies, either in utero or nursing. Moms will have to keep in mind that they need to provide their babies or themselves with enough continued vitamin c to avoid this potential problem. Further Reading on this Topic How to Use Vitamin C For Adrenal Support One woman’s tale of how she escaped Adrenal Fatigue by supplementing with Vitamin C [Sources: Staying Healthy with Nutrition, Elson Haas; ‘Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome”, James L. Wilson] Subscribe to Divine Health From The Inside Out Join our weekly newsletter and get our Herbal Teas for Vibrant Health FREE!