As we discovered in Part 1 of this article, vitamin C is essential for life, yet our bodies can’t produce it on their own. That means we need to know where to find vitamin C, and how much we need everyday. In this final part to 7 Facts You Need To Know About Vitamin C, let’s look at the remaining four facts so we can get a better picture of what your body needs.

4. Acerola Is The Fruit With The Highest Source Of Vitamin C

Acerola (also called Barbados cherry), is the fruit of a small tree from tropical Americas. It looks exactly like a cherry.

• It is the richest natural source of vitamin C, with the highest-known concentration. The pulp of the fruit is 20 to 30 times more concentrated in vitamin C than an orange or a lemon. It is also rich in vitamins B6, B1, and A, flavonoids and minerals (iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium).

• Its vitamin C is bioassimilable, which guarantees its efficiency and assimilation by the organism (in the contrary to artificial vitamin C).

• The acerola tree is known as a “safe” medicinal plant with rare side effects (occasional diarrhea with over dosage due to its “detox” property). It has no counter-indications.

Consuming fresh Acerola cherries is not easy and will not be efficient because of the sensitivity and instability of vitamin C (as mentioned earlier). It is best to consume it in the form of a complement when vitamin C has been carefully extracted and preserved. The quantity of acerola is not equal to the quantity of vitamin C it contains (i.e. 1000mg of Acerola will only give you 250mg of vitamin C extracted). It is, thus, important to read labels very carefully as the content of vitamin C is not equal to the value of natural fruit that is used, i.e. 500mg of Acerola cherry doesn’t mean you will get 500mg of vitamin C. You should always look at the content level of vitamin C and not at the fruit used.

Look for labels with titrated dry extracts that guarantee the consistency of the vitamin C content from one production batch to the other.

5. They Are Many Different Forms Of Vitamin C

There are five different types of vitamin C:

1. Artificial: A molecule created to be similar in shape and structure to natural vitamin C. Its only benefit is that it is cheap. Though of similar structure as natural vitamin C, it has very different biological properties and they can’t substitute one another. Artificial vitamin C remains as waste in the body and contains adjuvants and excipients that may have negative effects on the organism.
2. Synthetic (mix of artificial and natural): Often called “delayed effect” vitamin C. Body assimilation is not optimum because of the artificial vitamin C content.
3. Natural: The best form of vitamin C you can consume. Perfectly assimilated and absorbed by the body. It doesn’t create any waste in the body and doesn’t have any hyperactive effect. It is, however, very important to read labels very careful as the content of vitamin C is not equal to the content of natural fruit that is used.
4. Natural Synthetic: Rather than creating a vitamin C molecule, this form is extracted from the glucose of natural components (mostly cereals) and is often called Sodium Ascorbate or Calcium Ascorbate, etc.
5. Mixed Synthetic: A mix of natural and natural synthetic. The main advantage is the compromise in terms of price/quality, as it is a mix of natural vitamin C and synthetic natural, both being of natural source, thus natural.

6. Vitamin C Has No Hyperactive And Excitability Effect

Do you believe that vitamin C will prevent you from sleeping if you take it after 4pm? Well, many people think so. Where does the misconception come from?

Vitamin C supports the synthesis process of noradrenalin and dopamine, neurotransmitters of the brain involved with the state of vigilance, attention, concentration and awakening. So it seemed right at the time of printing instructions of use to indicate hyper-excitability as a possible side effect. However, this is not fully proven.

Clinical trials analyzing brain activities of subjects given 4mg of vitamin C before bedtime doesn’t show any “change” or function disturbance of their sleep pattern. Other studies concluded on students in medicine, comparing the effects of vitamin C, secobartial (a sleeping pill) and placebo has shown the same results.

On the contrary, it has been proven that vitamin C has a positive impact on stress and cortisol levels promoting relaxation for falling asleep. It is, however, preferable to use natural vitamin C, as some artificial ones contain caffeine, which could induce disturbance of sleep.

7. Fruit Content Doesn’t Mean Vitamin Content

RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for vitamin C is 105mg/day for adults. Always know the difference between fruit content and vitamin C content. Most supplements indicate 500mg of vitamin C; however, the weight of vitamin C (often synthetic) in the tablet is often only about 120mg. This may be an explanation of attractive prices of some products.

Always look for a formula that contains at least 300mg, preferably with active ingredients having a synergistic action and check the composition and origin of the product.

In conclusion, it is very important to take vitamin C as a complement, preferably from natural source to obtain the best benefits (best assimilation, no waste in the body). Vitamin C alone does not cure everything; however, it supports cellular functions and will help potentiate any treatment or therapy you are using.

Each individual needs to assess his or her own daily requirements. Ask your pharmacist or consult your medical doctor for advice. Content of this article is given as educational purpose and is not intended to diagnose or cure.

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_{This post was first published on Your Vitality Store blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Image credit: Fresh juicy citrus salad -  from Shutterstock}

_{Edited by Nedda Chaplin}

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