May 18, 2022

Vitamin C: Supplements 101

Vitamin C: Supplements 101

Vitamin C: so simple, so necessary... but what is it used for exactly? And what does deficiency look like? Is vitamin C deficiency linked to cancer incidence? Recurrence? Are there times when it should not be taken? Tina & Leah answer all of these questions and more!

Vitamin C is vital to the production of collagen, immune cells, and energy from fats in our diet, to name just a few of its actions. Sometimes called ascorbic acid or ascorbate, vitamin C is a nutrient that you can get from various fruits and veggies. In this episode, we talk about scurvy, high school science experiments, and how vitamin C is both an antioxidant and the opposite of this, a pro-oxidant. We also cover the role of vitamin C before, during, and after cancer diagnosis. 

So, can you take vitamin C if you are getting chemotherapy or radiation? Tina & Leah tackle the topic head-on with a discussion of when this nutrient is proven to be detrimental, when it is safe and when some caution is needed (i.e., "talk to your doctor!").

Tell us your thoughts on this episode!

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01:15 - Intro: Vitamin C

02:25 - Scurvy, Sailors, and tall tales

07:00 - Symptoms of Vit C defiency

08:50 - Who is vulnerable?

10:19 - Recommended minimum doses

11:27 - Deficiency vs. Insufficiency

13:07 - Vit C as antioxidant

14:08 - Green pharmacy uses

18:03 - Liposomal Vit C

19:55 - Neurotransmitters

21:17 - Topical application?

22:56 - Vit C and cancer(s)

25:49 - Bell peppers at the science fair

28:16 - Intravenous Vit C (IVC)

32:55 - Safety concerns/ Interactions

37:43 - Cancer Treatments & Vit C

43:36 - Wrap up