e capsule has 1,000 mg of vitamin C.
Rainbow LightGummy Vitamin C Slices, Tangy Tangerine flavor offer 250 mg of vitamin C in 3 gummies.
Modern studies have begun to validate some of vitamin C's benefits, including improved immune function, less risk or progression of heart disease and diabetes, reduced symptoms of allergic conditions, and healthier gums.
How to Use Vitamin C
Clinical experience shows that vitamin C is most effective when taken in doses up to "bowel tolerance," which doesn't necessarily mean diarrhea or loose stools. If you experience gas or a rumbling in your stomach, says Saul, you've reached bowel tolerance.
Equally important, he adds, "Take enough C to be symptom-free, whatever that amount may be." It could take several days of high doses, or longer, for cold symptoms to subside.
In addition to pills or chewable forms, pure powdered vitamin C is another option. Powder typically provides 1,000 mg of C in one-quarter teaspoon, and mixes easily with water or juice. If you're concerned about acidity, Saul recommends taking C with food, using a buffered form, or adding a tiny bit of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to your vitamin C powder. However, he says, "Normal stomach acid is 45-50 times as strong as vitamin C-if you can have vinegar on a salad, you can handle vitamin C acidity." To find physicians who treat patients with vitamin C, visit acam.org.
Vera Tweed has been writing about nutrition, fitness, and healthy living since 1997. She specializes in covering research and expert knowledge that empowers people to lead better lives. She is the author of numerous books, including Hormone Harmony and The User's Guide to Carnitine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine.