Vitamin C Therapy – How to Incorporate it Into Your Lifestyle

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential water-soluble nutrient that helps your body form blood vessels, heal wounds, and produce collagen. It is also an important antioxidant that protects indispensable molecules in your cells from damage.

Research has shown that high-dose Vitamin C can treat cancer and help prevent the recurrence of some types of tumors. It also improves the efficacy of chemotherapy treatment in some cases.

1. Eat Fruits and Vegetables

The body requires a large amount of vitamin C to function normally. It is the primary water-soluble antioxidant in plasma and tissues, protecting indispensable molecules such as proteins, lipids (fats), carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by free radicals and reactive oxygen species generated during normal metabolism or through exposure to toxins and pollutants including certain chemotherapy drugs and cigarette smoke. In addition to its role as a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C also participates in the redox recycling of other important antioxidants such as vitamins E and G.

A nutrient found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, vitamin C, is required to grow and repair tissues throughout the body, especially those of the blood vessels. It is also needed to make collagen, an important protein that forms the structure of skin, bones, and tendons.

Researchers have linked diets high in fruits and vegetables with a lower risk of some chronic diseases, including heart disease and certain cancers. A long-term study that followed people for 14 years showed that those who consumed more of the recommended daily servings of fruits and veggies were 21% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease compared to those who ate a low fruit and veggie intake.

Vitamin C is well-known for its ability to boost immunity and reduce symptoms of the common cold, as it helps the body fight infection. It is also a powerful antioxidant that may help slow the progression of certain types of cancer. In fact, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist named Linus Pauling theorized that intravenously administered high-dose vitamin C could be a treatment for cancer because it kills cancer cells in laboratory tests and is thought to prevent them from metastasizing by blocking the enzyme hyaluronidase.

2. Drink Lemon Water

A glass of lemon water may be the answer whether you’re trying to lose weight, clear your skin, or keep your immune system strong. “It curbs spikes in hunger thanks to its blood sugar-balancing pectin (a type of soluble fiber) and boosts metabolism by encouraging the body to burn fat,” says naturopathic physician Laura Neville, MS, ND.

Vitamin C is a nutrient well known for boosting the immune system and improving skin health, as it stimulates collagen production, fends free radical damage, and hydrates cells. But the other vitamins and nutrients in lemons, such as flavonoids and potassium, also offer many health benefits.

For example, flavonoids in lemons decrease oxidative stress, which leads to inflammation and helps your body absorb iron better. And the potassium in lemons is essential for nerve-muscle communication and transporting nutrients throughout your body.

Another benefit of drinking lemon water is that it’s low in calories and naturally refreshing, making it an ideal alternative to fruit juices that can be loaded with added sugar. But don’t be fooled by those little bottles of bottled lemon juice at the supermarket, which have lost much of their vitamin C and were heated (which kills healthy live enzymes).

Instead, try squeezing the juice from one fresh lemon into 8 to 12 ounces of water. You can add a pinch of lemon zest, too, if you like. Or boil the lemon in water by quartering it and allowing it to simmer or boil for 3 minutes before cooling and drinking. You can even sweeten it with a drizzle of honey if needed. But just don’t overdo it–too much vitamin C can cause gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and nausea.

3. Take Vitamin C Supplements

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is required by the body to produce collagen and to function properly. It also plays an important role in iron absorption and the immune system. Insufficient intake of vitamin C may result in scurvy, a condition that can cause fatigue, joint pain, and inflamed gums. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that can be found in a wide variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin C is available in supplement form. Large doses of vitamin C can sometimes have adverse effects, including kidney stones, atherosclerosis, and a form of scurvy called rebound scurvy. However, there is no evidence that doses up to 10 g/day in adults are toxic or harmful. Many people prefer mineral salts of vitamin C, such as sodium and calcium ascorbate, because they are less acidic and do not irritate the digestive tract.

High levels of vitamin C in the blood have been associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and eye diseases, and a reduction in atrial fibrillation. However, more studies are needed to confirm these associations.

A number of small, randomized trials have demonstrated that high doses of vitamin C, administered orally or intravenously, reduce blood pressure in those with mild to moderate hypertension. However, good-quality long-term trials are needed.

Several pilot trials have shown that vitamin C can help to alleviate some of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer. In a small study of people with refractory metastatic colorectal or melanoma, patients who received IV vitamin C and standard therapy had significantly better overall survival than those who received standard treatment alone. However, in some cases, combining vitamin C with certain anticancer drugs can interfere with their effectiveness.

4. Exercise

Vitamin C therapy is an effective treatment for a number of health issues, including chronic fatigue syndrome. It boosts immune function, fights viruses, and is an anti-aging supplement when taken at the correct dosage. IV treatment allows the body to absorb a larger vitamin C dose more quickly than oral supplements.

Whether used on its own or combined with other nutrients like magnesium, B complex, folic acid, and essential minerals, IV therapy is an excellent way to improve your overall health. Schedule an appointment with our mobile nurse to receive your high-dose vitamin C therapy in the comfort of your home or office.

Prior to receiving your high-dose vitamin C treatment, we will test your G6PD blood levels. This is necessary to ensure your treatment will be tolerated safely.