I have read that vitamin C aids in recovery. Now I have also read that 1gram of C a day is plenty. Other places state that upto 3 grams is plenty. Anyone know?
We just don’t know.
Childs et al. (2001) showed that roughly one gram of each of vitamin C and NAC actually induced damage and delayed post workout recovery.
The jury is still out.
One gram a day is a lot, more than 16 times the USRDA for regular people. The USRDA for regular people is 60 milligrams/day.
As a store owner it has always been my advice for people to take AT LEAST 1 gram but to look at trying to take 2-3 grams. Really the USRDA is a joke because they dont take into account different diets, etc. So they suggest something for vitamin intake that most people CAN get from food, even though our current crops suck ass in the nutrient department. Human beings and guinea pigs are the only 2 animals that dont produce their own vitamin C, and we are the only 2 things that have heart attacks. But that is off topic, if you want more info and a suggested reading pertaining to vitamin C, PM me.
[quote]Haramdar wrote:
Human beings and guinea pigs are the only 2 animals that dont produce their own vitamin C, and we are the only 2 things that have heart attacks. [/quote]
This is flat out wrong. A lot of other animals have heart attacks, most notably turkeys (they often die of heart failure before the blade hits the neck). The website where you read your information should seriously be called into question if it said that.
Linus Pauling was pushing for the RDA to be set at 250mg back in the day, but like Mr. Barr said, we don’t know the optimal dose yet. A sound recommendation seems to be 500mg in two doses, though, from what I’ve read and experienced.
-Dan
Vitamin C is not a problem. Over the years there have been a number of attempts by drug companies to discredit C. In one test they tried to use C to induce cancer in rats. Did not work. The C caused zero damage.
Dr. Julian Whitaker MD in Health & Healing wrote on preserving male sexual function. One of the easy things he listed was 3 x 1000 of C day. It is among the things I have taken for years. Note: age 63, everything works, zero failures. Men who intend to continue to be functioning men will continue to take 3 x 1000 of C a day. Prevention is cheaper and less painfull that fixing something when it breaks. Take the C, so that later in life you will not say - Well I guess I shoulda…
[quote]buffalokilla wrote:
This is flat out wrong. A lot of other animals have heart attacks, most notably turkeys (they often die of heart failure before the blade hits the neck). The website where you read your information should seriously be called into question if it said that.
Linus Pauling was pushing for the RDA to be set at 250mg back in the day, but like Mr. Barr said, we don’t know the optimal dose yet. A sound recommendation seems to be 500mg in two doses, though, from what I’ve read and experienced.
-Dan[/quote]
As I do not get my information from websites, I would not know what they suggest. And since this is the field I am in, I take this quite seriously as their are many benefits of vitamin C and since our food is NOT an adequate source, nor is JUST a multivitamin, I will continue to advise this.
As far as turkeys and heart attacks go (among other animals) if you can pinpoint research that indicates that the turkeys deaths are strictly from lack of vitamin C, I will be more than happy to edit my previous post and revise my statements given to my customers as well. Any links to information OR just some books you’d like me to pick up, please note them. OH and as far as the suggested reading from my earlier post, I would like anyone interested in the link between vitamin C and heart attacks to pick up the book “Why Animals Don’t Get Heart Attacks, But Humans do.”
Taking vitamin C makes me feel like shit, especially the ascorbic acid form, calcium ascorbate is a little better probably due to the higher ph, but still isn’t all that hot. Most notably I get back pain, sore joints, and hypoglycemia along with the other problems associated with it. Anyone in the spectrum of hyperthyroidism, or higher than average T3, T4 levels will probably feel worse if not supplementing also with copper as vitamin C acts as it’s chelator. Hyperthyroidism and copper deficiency very often run hand in hand, so taking vitamin C will most definitely make it worse.
If you have a sluggish metabolism then I’d say experiment with it, conversely if you have a naturally fast metabolism I’d say be careful, and only try a small amount(250mg) if at all. That’s assuming your metabolism issues are being mostly governed by your thyroid. Of course there’s other variables that also effect metabolism.
A lot of people here think they HAVE to take supplements like zinc and vitamin C to be more healthy. Sometimes it could be no farther from the truth.
I’m not anti-vitamin C though. Some people need high doses of up to 10 grams a day. You just can’t give blanket statements. Everyone is different and there is huge amount of variation in people.
BRI WHATCHAMACALLITT’S POST IS GOOD!
I had my hair tested for micronutrient defeciency etc… and I found out that I have too much copper in my system and Vit. C feels GREAT!
[quote]beebuddy wrote:
BRI WHATCHAMACALLITT’S POST IS GOOD!
[/quote]
LOL I didn’t think my last name was that difficult to spell! 
After you hit the reply button it’s all over with…
The potential pro-oxidant nature of Vit C and other anti-oxidants has rather confused matters, however being the cynic that I am, I have yet to buy into this one and for all we know, it may be an attempt to discredit anti-oxidants, stemming for the corrupt pharma circles. One thing I can say for sure, is that when I’ve stopped taking Vit C for a few weeks, I often start developing mouth ulcers. As soon as I start on Vit C again, no ulcers.
For the vitamin C, here is an interesting take, Hugo Rivera:
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that improves your immune system and helps you recover faster from your workouts by suppressing the amount of cortisol (hormone that kills muscle and aids in the accumulation of fat) that is released by your body during a workout.
Vitamin C is the only Vitamin that I recommend to be taken in mega doses quantities. Remember that since it is a water-soluble vitamin, it will not get stored by the body. Research shows that if taken an hour before a workout (1000mg dose) it significantly reduces muscle soreness and speeds recovery after a workout.
I recommend a total of 3000 mg per day of Vitamin C. If your multiple vitamin pack already has 1000 mg, and you take this in the morning, then all you need is an extra 1000 mg at lunch and 1000 mg at dinner.
Here is another take on vitamin C, in this months men’s health:
high doses of vitamin C can slow muscle recovery. When healthy men took 1000mg of the vitamin daily, they experienced decreased muscle strength for a full week after intense running, compared with those who skipped the supplement. However, previous studies report that moderate intake of vitamin C-100 to 500mg a day - speeds recovery.
So why isnt more vitamin C better? The scientists suspect that the higher dose reduces the scavanger cells, which clean up debris from muscle damage and signal your body that your muscles need repair. Cap you supplementation at 500mg a day, an amount a Japanese study found also reduces the frequency of colds.
i have read that megadosing vitamin c in the ranges of 10-15 grams a day is suppsoed to be good for you.
Wow this is way too much info now…I now I’ve been taking extra vitamin C for a year now…I personally haven’t been sick with a cold, flu, fever, whatever that WHOLE time. But I do have sore muscles A LOT, and I know since I was born I have a copper defiency…wtf!
My Dad(and he could be wrong, he’s getting old) told me that back in 80’s or 70’s there was a doctor that would take MASSIVE like spoonfulls of vitamin C, than he shot himself up with the aids virus, and as long as he kept taking those massive doses, he never actually fell victim to the effects of aids, it just floated around harmlessly in his body.
Oh, and I’m pretty sure there’s another species that doesn’t make it’s own C, the noble fruit bat.
Fruit bat, bitches.
i’ve heard the same…in fact, one strength coach recommends 1 gram taken with each meal, and as much as 4 grams alone after a workout.
Countrylastime, ref your father’s story. I think he may have referred to a North or South Carolina sugreon who had tested positive for aids. If I recall right,I(63 years olde, fat & gray) there was a North or South Carolina surgeon who tested positive for aids. He took massive amts of C and Thymus extract. With aids/hiv, you read about T cell counts, that has to do with Thymus cells. After some period of time the illness was no longer indicated in him, and he was allowed to re enter surgery.
I believe Fred Hatfield and Charlie Francis both recommend 3-10 grams of Vit C per day.
I typically take around 4-6 grams. I rarely get soreness, but then again, I rarely got DOMS that bad before I started taking sore. It DEFINITLY helps flu-like symptoms though, I used to have constant allergies before I started taking it and now I rarely even blow my nose.