That vitamin C is essential to our survival has been known for a long time. However, the amount we should consume on a daily basis remains a controversial topic. Vitamin C supplements are advertised as natural anti-ageing medication, which will also allow you to live longer – just how much of it is true? Vitamin C and Scurvy As early as the 13th century, crusaders discovered, that eating citrus fruit effectively prevented a mystery disease, which killed many of them. As we understand today, this mystery illness was scurvy, caused by a deficiency in vitamin C, which is estimated to have killed around 2 million sailors between 1500 and 1800. Some sailors believed, our bodies needed the acidic components of fruit and drank sulfuric acid to compensate for the lack of fresh food – with disastrous consequences. Sailors were not the only part of the population at risk of scurvy. When breastfeeding went out of fashion in the late 19th century, many upper-class children were suddenly found to be suffering from scurvy, as the pasteurized cow’s milk they were raised on no longer contained the required dose of vitamin C.
What is the recommended daily intake for vitamin C? The human body is unable to produce vitamin C. It is also unable to store the vitamin, which is why the NHS recommends a daily intake of 40mg. Different countries and organisations have come up with differing guidelines on vitamin C:40mg National health Service 45mg World Health Organisation 80mg EU Commission 60mg-95mg US National Academy of Sciences There is a simple reason for the significant discrepancy between the recommended doses: The exact amount our body needs is not yet known. What we do know, is that following any of these guidelines will suffice. Some people have attributed almost magical powers to the vitamin. The most famous advocate of vitamin C's alleged ability to not just prevent the common cold but also cure cancer is Linus Pauling, until today the only person to ever have won the nobel prize for chemistry as well as the nobel prize for peace.
Unfortunately, his contribution to the field of medicine was less impressive. His claim to be able to cure cancer with high doses of vitamins was never confirmed in medical trials. Pauling strongly believed in his theory and consumed 3 grams of vitamin C every day. He died of prostate cancer in 1994. The UK vitamin industry is booming Pauling is not the only person who believed in vitamin C as a cure for a range of illnesses. Many have followed in his footsteps – probably because vitamin supplements represent an attractive market. In 2009, the vitamin supplement industry in the UK made a turnover of £670 million, with vitamin C supplements accounting for £35.9 million of the total. Manufacturers promise that you will feel like „You, but on a really good day“ (Berocca) if you take extra vitamins. Other supplement providers (Healthspan) claim that their pills promote a „healthy lifespan“, implying the promise of a longer life. Wouldn't we all like to take a pill which makes us look younger and live longer?
“Most of us can get all the vitamins we need from a balanced diet” As the NHS fittingly comments, consumers find themselves on a „minefield“ when trying to choose nutritional supplements and vitamin pills. This is not to say that vitamin supplements are not useful - it just means that if you’re eating healthily and take vitamin pills in addition, you’re most likely wasting your money. Pregnant women or those trying to conceive can benefit from taking certain nutritional supplements, such as folic acid. Elderly people and children can also in some cases benefit from an additional intake of vitamin a, c and d. In general however, there is no need to take any supplements, unless you have been diagnosed with a deficiency. This is particularly true for vitamin C, which can be found in most vegetables, including oranges and orange juice, broccoli and even potatoes. A longer life with vitamin supplements? An extensive study involving 232,000 participants found no evidence to support the claim that taking vitamins prolongs your life span.
With regards to supplements containing the vitamins A and E and beta-carotene, they even found a minimal increase in mortality rates. In short: Taking extra vitamins will not make you live longer.It looks like we can stick to what physician Johann Bachstrom recommended in 1734, over 300 years ago. He described the vitamin c deficiency scurvy as “solely owing to a total abstinence from fresh vegetable food, and greens”. “Eat fresh fruit and vegetables”.Jump to: Related Herbs | Olive leaf is the leaf of the olive tree (Olea europaea) was first used medicinally in Ancient Egypt. It is gaining recognition as a powerful defender against sickness and numerous scientific studies have been conducted to investigate the extracts beneficial properties. The reported benefits of olive leaf extract range from promoting increased energy and healthy blood pressure, to supporting the cardiovascular system and the immune system. Olives are native to Asia Minor and Syria, but are cultivated in Mediterranean countries and also Chile, Peru and South Australia.
Olive leaf was first used medicinally in Ancient Egypt and was a symbol of heavenly power. It was also used to mummify pharaohs. More recent knowledge of the olive leaf's medicinal properties dates back to the early 1800s when pulverised leaves were used in a drink to lower fevers. A few decades later, green olive leaves were used in tea as a treatment for malaria. Modern health professionals first started using Olive Leaf extract in 1995 when it first became available and although a long-term perspective is not yet possible, initial results are very positive. It is emerging as a very promising and unique herb with multiple applications. It shows considerable therapeutic action against many common conditions. Olive leaf extract is gaining recognition as a powerful defender against sickness, and numerous scientific studies have been conducted to investigate the extract's beneficial properties. The reported benefits of olive leaf extract's range from promoting increased energy and healthy blood pressure, to supporting the cardiovascular system, and the immune system.
From research and clinical experience to date, we can say that supplemental olive leaf may be beneficial in the treatment for conditions caused by, or associated with, a virus, retrovirus, bacterium or protozoan. Among those treatable conditions are: influenza, the common cold, candida infections, meningitis, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), encephalitis, herpes I and II, human herpes virus 6 and 7, shingles (Herpes zoster), HIV/ARC/AIDS, chronic fatigue, hepatitis B, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, malaria, dengue, severe diarrhea, and dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections. Many people who live stressful lives or who may be particularly susceptible to colds and viruses may benefit from long-term use of olive leaf as a preventive agent. Some patients have expressed other unexpected benefits of olive leaf, including improved psoriasis, normalisation of heart beat irregularities, diminished cravings, less pain from hemorrhoids, toothaches and chronically achy joints. In the early 1900s scientists isolated a bitter compound called oleuropein from olive leaf that was thought to give the olive tree its disease resistance.
In 1962 an Italian researcher recorded that Oleuropein had the ability to lower blood pressure in animals. It dilates the blood vessels so that blood may flow more easily throughout the system. Other European researchers validated that claim and also found it to increase blood flow in the coronary arteries, relieve arrhythmia and prevent intestinal muscle spasms. In the years to come, a Dutch researcher identified that a primary ingredient in oleuropein inhibited the growth of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. This chemical was elenolic acid. Further European research determined this compound to have strong bactericidal, antiviral and antifungal capabilities. A safety study on calcium elenolate was tested with laboratory animals and published by the Upjohn pharmaceutical company in 1970. The study concluded that even in doses several hundred times higher than recommended; no toxic or other adverse side effects were discovered. Research suggests that olive leaf may be a true anti-viral compound because it appears to selectively block an entire virus-specific system in the infected host.
This appears to offer healing effects not addressed by pharmaceutical antibiotics. Olive leaf's broad killing power includes an ability to interfere with critical amino acid production for viruses; an ability to contain viral infection and/or spread by inactivating viruses by preventing virus shredding, budding or assembly at the cell membrane; the ability to directly penetrate infected cells and stop viral replication. As an antioxidant, Olive leaf extract protects those blood vessels from damage, and has been shown to be effective in protecting the heart from coronary occlusion. When taken over an extended period of time, it is believed to reverse arteriosclerosis. Olive leaves are astringent and antiseptic. Both the leaves and the bark have valuable febrifuge qualities. Olive, Olive Leaf, Olive Tree, Olivier astringent, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, anti-parasitic, anti-septic, anti-viral, febrifuge, immune-boosting, tranquiliser Stabilising blood sugar levels, parasites (giardia, intestinal worms, malaria forming protozoa, microscopic protozoa, pinworms, ringworm, roundworm, tapeworms), boosting immune function, fighting infection, increasing resistance to disease, lowering blood pressure, abdominal chill, anthrax, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, autoimmune disorders, barium chloride and calcium induced arrhythmia, boosts energy levels, brain and nervous conditions, candida, cardiovascular conditions, chest complaints, chlamydia, chronic fatigue, chronic joint ache, chronic toenail fungus infection
, colds & flu, cold sores, dengue, dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections, dissolves cholesterol, encephalitis, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), fevers, fibromyalgia, gastric ulcers caused by H. pylori, gastrointestinal conditions, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, haemorrhoid pain-relief, hepatitis A, B, C, herpes I and II, HIV/ARC/AIDS, human herpesvirus 6 and 7, improves blood flow, improves symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and related conditions, increases bile secretions, lupus, malaria, meningitis (bacterial/viral), mononucleosis, nervous tension, normalisation of heart beat irregularities, pneumonia, psoriasis, rabies, respiratory conditions, rheumatic fever, salmonella, severe diarrhea, shingles, shingles (Herpes zoster), sinus infections, soothes mucous membranes, staphylococcal food poisoning, streptococcus infection in throat, syphilis, toothache, toxic shock syndrome, trichinosis, tuberculosis, vaginitis, vasodilator effect on the smooth layer of coronary arteries, warts.