Vitamin C, touted by moms and health food advocates as a cure-all for the common cold, has more than a solitary role in the health and wellness of your body and household. Vitamin C is by far the most recognized most widely available vitamin and fresh fruits, and is easily found in nearly every supermarket, pharmacy, and superstore like Costco or Wal-Mart.
What you may not realize however is that beyond its germ fighting and immune boosting qualities, vitamin C can be used in the fight against heart disease, muscle fatigue, and insect bites.
How Does Vitamin C Help against Heart Disease?
Dr. Matthias Rath wrote a short book that is widely available on the Internet, entitled, "The Heart Book". In it he describes the role and function of cholesterol and plugging holes in our arteries. He suggests that our bodies produce cholesterol in order to fix weak arterial walls created by a lack of vitamin C.
The cholesterol acts as glue or mortar to plug the gaps, but until our bodies have access to the proper nutrition to heal itself, the cholesterol production will increase along with the risk for a heart attack.
Dr. Linus Pauling, before his death worked side by side with Dr. Rath, and found numerous applications for vitamin C. One of the most controversial uses and applications was his premise that vitamin C could actually kill the cancer cells without harming the healthy cells surrounding them.
How About Muscle Fatigue?
Vitamin C has made itself a home among bodybuilders and sports enthusiasts as a preventative for sore muscles after a workout. When muscles are exercised and stretched, lactic acid is produced, which then crystallizes and causes the stiff and sore arms and legs associated with a great workout.
By taking 1000 mg of vitamin C after your workout, it may be possible to alleviate or eliminate the usual pain the day after that big weekend ride or hike, and the effects suffered at the gym.
What's so Great about Vitamin C and Insect Bites?
Vitamin C is recognized as a natural antihistamine. Antihistamines are the substances that cause much of the itching after being bitten by a mosquito or spider, and from pollens and other allergens. When bitten by a mosquito or spider, try making a paste from a little ascorbic acid and a few drops of water, and apply the paste your bites. Although it may seem a little at first the itching and swelling often start to subside immediately.
Besides being used externally, when bitten or stung by a bee, wasp, spider, aunt or other insect pests, vitamin C might find its way to becoming your first-aid miracle. You are stung by a bee or wasp, try this little home remedy.
(This is in no way claim that vitamin c, Benadryl, or tea tree oil will cure or treat anything, nor should it be construed as a prescription, so follow label instructions and your physicians advice.)
Apply a few drops of tea tree oil to the Sting, then take an age and weight appropriate dose of Benadryl, and at least 1000 mg of vitamin C. The pain will abate, and the swelling will go way down, and you might not even notice the Sting the rest of the day.
Next time you're at the store, try picking up a bottle of vitamin C crystals. With quite possibly thousands of uses, some of which might not yet even have been discovered, you could find more than just 3 ways vitamin C might change your life.
Vitamin C An Antioxidant
Vitamin C supplements come in all shapes and sizes. You can now buy vitamin c in tablets, capsules, drink-mix packets, multi-vitamin formulations, and crystalline powder. Even timed released vitamin c supplements are available. Some vitamin c supplements contain synthetic vitamin c while others contain plants that naturally contain vitamin c. Out of all these choices, which is most beneficial for the body?
Synthetic Vitamin C Supplements
Most synthetic vitamin c supplements are now supplied by China. Like most everything else these days, china can produce artificial vitamin c cheaper than anyone else. Thus, the vitamin c supplements that you can buy in Wal-Mart, Target, and even Whole Foods are synthetically produced in China. Can you be sure that mass produced, snythetically-manufacutured vitamin c is the healthiest for you?
Natural Vitamin C Supplements
Most natural-health doctors teach that nature knows best. Thus, despite popular belief, this means NOT all vitamin c supplements are equal. The natural sources with the highest concentration of vitamin c are plants. The kakadu plum has 3100 mg of vitamin c per 100g. To put this in perspective, an orange has just 50 mg of vitamin c per 100g. A widely used plant for natural vitamin c supplements is the rosehip. Rose hips contain 2000 mg / 100g. By taking a vitamin c supplement from a natural source, you know that your body will recognize and be able to utilize the vitamin.
To find a good vitamin c supplement search for a vitamin c supplement made from rose hips. Mortersupplements.com provides a good vitamin c supplement from rose hips (http://mortersupplements.com/chewcberry1.html). A Google search will likely turn up other possibilities. Expect to pay about $20 a bottle for a natural vitamin c supplement. And remember, if the bottle doesn't say where the vitamin c comes from, it's likely a synthetic source. Also, if the amount of vitamin c per tablet is higher than 200 mg it's virtually always from a synthetic source (and probably from China).
If you'd like more accountability in your vitamin c supplement, look for one that's made from a natural source, like rose hips.
Both Dhamza & Brian Balster are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dhamza has sinced written about articles on various topics from Psychology, Communications and Psychology. Hamza is committed to promoting health and wellness. Want to know the truth about vitamin c? Find out more by visiting . Dhamza's top article generates over 1830000 views. to your Favourites.
Brian Balster has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Nutrition and Health. Brian Balster writes for The Healthy Times, a Health & Wellness Newsletter. For more information on vitamin c supplements with rose hips visit