Re: Vitamin C - help from Duncan?

[Guest guest]

Beth-

I for one agree very much with the viewpoint of that web page. most

vitamins (and supps in general) are synthetic and add to the burden on

the liver. Other natural healers make this same point. if you want

real healing, this type of product is to be avoided. focus on real

foods and your digestion instead.

g

> Hi Duncan, and anyone else who may have insights and contributions

to make to this query,

>

>

> A link to a webpage that negates the efficacy and merits of Vitamin

C has me very confused. It basically says that vitamins are not

singular things but rather compounds. Further, it states that

ascorbic acid, as found in typical Vitamin C supplements, is not in

fact vitamin C at all because it is not a complete compound. It says

the only complete and usable Vitamin C is found in its whole source,

as in food items, such as limes, potatoes, oranges, etc.

>

> Forgive me this crude translation of the data in the article which

you can read for yourselves, in its entirety here at:

http://www.thedoctorwithin.com/index_fr.html?content=content.html

(once this page loads, it skips to a mission statement page...just

click on your " back " button to get to the article).

>

>

> Here's the question: are Vitamin C supplements useless? If not,

which is the best Vitamin C on the market (or is it best obtained at a

pharmacy)?

>

> Thanks in advance,

> Beth

>

>

>

>

> Here's a tiny excerpt:

>

> WHOLE FOOD VITAMINS:

> ASCORBIC ACID IS NOT VITAMIN C

>

> written by Tim O'Shea

>

>

>

> " ...In addition, mineral co-factors must be available in proper amounts.

>

> If any of these parts are missing, there is no vitamin C, no vitamin

activity. When some of them are present, the body will draw on its own

stores to make up the differences, so that the whole vitamin may be

present. Only then will vitamin activity take place, provided that all

other conditions and co-factors are present. Ascorbic acid is

described merely as the " antioxidant wrapper " portion of vitamin C;

ascorbic acid protects the functional parts of the vitamin from rapid

oxidation or breakdown. (Somer p 58 " Vitamin C: A Lesson in Keeping An

Open Mind " The Nutrition Report)

>

> Over 90% of ascorbic acid in this country is manufactured at a

facility in Nutley, New Jersey, owned by Hoffman-LaRoche, one of the

world's biggest drug manufacturers(1 800 526 0189). Here ascorbic acid

is made from a process involving cornstarch and volatile acids. Most

U.S. vitamin companies then buy the bulk ascorbic acid from this

single facility. After that, marketing takes over. Each company makes

its own labels, its own claims, and its own formulations, each one

claiming to have the superior form of vitamin C, even though it all

came from the same place, and it's really not vitamin C at all.

>

> FRACTIONATED = SYNTHETIC = CRYSTALLINE = FAKE

>

> The word synthetic means two things:

> - manmade

> - occurs nowhere in nature

> From the outset, it is crucial to understand the difference between

vitamins and vitamin activity. The vitamin is the biochemical complex.

Vitamin activity means the actual biological and cellular changes that

take place when the stage is set for the vitamin complex to act. "

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh yeah the doctorwithin.com is awsome.. the guy is

super overdramatic though. Only take his comments with

a grain of salt.

*8-)

[Guest guest]

> A link to a webpage that negates the efficacy and merits of Vitamin C

> has me very confused. It basically says that vitamins are not

> singular things but rather compounds. Further, it states that

> ascorbic acid, as found in typical Vitamin C supplements, is not in

> fact vitamin C at all because it is not a complete compound. It says

> the only complete and usable Vitamin C is found in its whole source,

> as in food items, such as limes, potatoes, oranges, etc.

What they don't tell you is that you can take vitamin C pills and

also make sure the whole foods vitamin C is present in your diet. In

other words, do supplement but make sure you have whole foods too. To

get high doses you need to supplement.

regards,

Duncan Crow

duncancrow/

--- live and help live... ---

[Guest guest]

As is with much of this stuff, very controversial. I've actually seen a doctor

who is one of the more " famous " for his work in the area of mega vitamin c

therapy-Dr. Cathcart. He is 71, and his stories are really amazing. Needless

to say, all of his beleives would totaly discount this position noted below.

Below are some links to him and his stuff. Persoannly, I think there must be

something to vitamin c being a magic cure for some things, however I beleive the

catch is that it probably isn't or isn't as much for everyone. I'm one of those

that for some reason it works like magic on me. I litterally can ward off a

cold, and after tapping into this 7 years ago have never caught one. Or I start

to get it like everyone else, but can make it go away with vit c. However my

daughter and husband even taking high doses don't seem to be as lucky, so go

figure. Then again you never end up knowing how much worse it would have been

without the c.

But if someone was looking for a source/brand, I'd say he's the guy to go to.

In fact he said he definietly has seen not all brands work the same. Here's

the info:

NutriBiotic Hypo-Allergneic PH 2.1- 1000 mg

http://www.aboutbreathing.com/articles/vitamin-c.htm general info as to how it

works by Dr. Cathcart

http://www.doctoryourself.com/immune.html testimony of a child with a messed up

immune system

http://www.orthomed.com/ Dr. Cathcarts website, but it's cluttery!

Vitamin C - help from Duncan?

Here's the question: are Vitamin C supplements useless? If not, which is the

best Vitamin C on the market (or is it best obtained at a pharmacy)?

Thanks in advance,

Beth

Here's a tiny excerpt:

WHOLE FOOD VITAMINS:

ASCORBIC ACID IS NOT VITAMIN C

written by Tim O'Shea

" ...In addition, mineral co-factors must be available in proper amounts.

If any of these parts are missing, there is no vitamin C, no vitamin activity.

When some of them are present, the body will draw on its own stores to make up

the differences, so that the whole vitamin may be present. Only then will

vitamin activity take place, provided that all other conditions and co-factors

are present. Ascorbic acid is described merely as the " antioxidant wrapper "

portion of vitamin C; ascorbic acid protects the functional parts of the vitamin

from rapid oxidation or breakdown. (Somer p 58 " Vitamin C: A Lesson in Keeping

An Open Mind " The Nutrition Report)

Over 90% of ascorbic acid in this country is manufactured at a facility in

Nutley, New Jersey, owned by Hoffman-LaRoche, one of the world's biggest drug

manufacturers(1 800 526 0189). Here ascorbic acid is made from a process

involving cornstarch and volatile acids. Most U.S. vitamin companies then buy

the bulk ascorbic acid from this single facility. After that, marketing takes

over. Each company makes its own labels, its own claims, and its own

formulations, each one claiming to have the superior form of vitamin C, even

though it all came from the same place, and it's really not vitamin C at all.

FRACTIONATED = SYNTHETIC = CRYSTALLINE = FAKE

The word synthetic means two things:

- manmade

- occurs nowhere in nature

From the outset, it is crucial to understand the difference between vitamins

and vitamin activity. The vitamin is the biochemical complex. Vitamin activity

means the actual biological and cellular changes that take place when the stage

is set for the vitamin complex to act. "