Vitamin C….Too Much Of A Good Thing

Have you ever browsed the grocery isles seen that a product is labeled to be high in vitamin C?

Generally it catches your eye and so you think it would be better for you, correct? However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to buy the product just because it is a ‘good source’ of vitamin C.

Vitamins are divided into two categories, insoluble and water soluble.  Water soluble vitamins, such as Vitamin C, are directly absorbed in the blood stream.  However, only a certain amount may be absorbed at a time, so any excess Vitamin C is excreted out at your next bathroom break. Ester-C and other pill packs have Vitamin C but use other starches as fillers.  There have been reported cases of individuals who frequently consumed high doses of Vitamin C pills that developed kidney stones from the starch that was consumed with the vitamin.

Very few individuals are deficient in vitamin C as it is readily available in a variety of foods and most fruits and vegetables.  So don’t go out of your way to buy a product just because it is ‘loaded with 100%’ of the daily Vitamin C.

And remember, the high sugar contents in many of the juice drinks “Fortified with Vitamin C” can easily offset the benefits of the Vitamin C in the drink.