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Vitamin C Gives a Big |
The best defense for combating cold and flu season is to go on the offense by enhancing the function of your immune system, which is composed of cells and other components that guard the body against attacks from viruses and other foreign invaders.
Vitamin C is well known for its immune-stimulating properties.
Numerous clinical studies document that vitamin C works at the cellular level to support a robust immune system. This antioxidant nutrient also plays an important role in the production of collagen, which ensures the strength and integrity of connective tissue.
Strong connective tissue acts as a barrier to prevent infections, such as cold and flu viruses, from penetrating cells and spreading throughout the body. If you can prevent the cellular membrane from being penetrated, you can protect yourself.
Vitamin C is essential for life and because the human body cannot produce this critical nutrient, it must be obtained from food sources and dietary supplements.
By supplementing with a complete vitamin C formula, you will be proactive in boosting your immunity to protect yourself against colds, the flu, and other viruses.
A review of studies conducted with vitamin C showed that participants under heavy stress who supplemented with this nutrient decreased their incidence of the common cold by half.
The ABCs of Vitamin C Supplements
Vitamin C is available in several forms, but all supplements are not created equal. The majority of vitamin C supplements on the market today contain only a single form of vitamin C known as ascorbic acid.
This form of vitamin C, however, does not remain in the body for a long period of time, which minimizes its positive effects on immune system health.
Research has established that in order to maximize the immune-enhancing value of vitamin C, it is best to supplement with a formula containing multiple forms of the nutrient, among them ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, calcium ascorbate and magnesium ascorbate.
While citrus bioflavonoids are not a form of vitamin C, their presence enhances its utilization and a complete vitamin C formula will contain citrus bioflavonoids. Although Ester-C is a very popular vitamin C supplement, it only contains calcium ascorbate and is not as potent as the aforementioned vitamin c combination.
There are important differences in the various forms of vitamin C available today.
Citrus bioflavonoids have a protective effect on vitamin C and enhance its absorption and utilization in the body. Vitamin C formulations that include citrus bioflavonoids provide increased antioxidant protection.
Boost Your Immunity With a Complete Vitamin C Supplement
Matthias Rath, M.D, who worked closely with the late two-time Nobel Laureate and pioneer vitamin C researcher Linus Pauling, made a breakthrough in the natural control of viral infections, including SARS and HIV, based on the use of vitamin C.
Dr. Rath applied the concept of nutrient synergy in developing the most complete vitamin C supplement available on the market today. Nutrient synergy is the scientific principle that nutrients work in the body more effectively in teams, therefore, enhancing their biological effectiveness at lower dosages.
Choosing the right vitamin C supplement can greatly influence the health of your immune system.
Supplementing with a well-designed vitamin C formula composed of ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, calcium ascorbate and magnesium ascorbate, plus citrus bioflavonoids will give your immune system a much-needed boost and help protect you during cold and flu season
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Used with permission
References :
Hemila H. Vitamin C and common cold incidence: A review of studies with subjects under heavy physical stress. Internat'l Sports Med 1996;17(5):379-383.
Moser U, Bendich A. Vitamin C. In: Handbook of Vitamins, 2nd ed. New York: Marcel Dekker; 1990.
Niedzwiecki A, Rath M. Cellular Nutrient Synergy in Health: What Is It? How It Works. Santa Clara, CA: Dr. Rath Education Services USA, BV; 2005. RSAP11392
