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Leading Edge
HI-CEE
Leading Edge Hi-Cee is a lovely powdered version of vitamin C – easy to
stir into your child’s drink (or your own), to ensure that the family
obtains an inexpensive way of keeping their vitamin C status up. We
only stock the highest grade.
The human body cannot
make Vitamin C, so it’s something you have to eat every day. Did you
know that very often oranges and other vitamin C-rich foods have
absolutely no vitamin C in them whatsoever due to food processing
methods? Often fruit and vegetables are irradiated, stored in cold
storage for over a year, artificially ripened, genetically modified –
the list of nasties is endless! It’s a miracle we get any goodness at
all from our food these days! To make sure you do – it’s best to use a
vitamin C supplement. Vitamin C is 100% non-toxic, 100% safe and you
can’t overdose – so make the most of it.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C assists the
body in the production of collagen, a basic component of connective
tissues which is an important structural element in blood vessel walls,
gums, and bones, making it particularly important to those recovering
from wounds and surgery. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant,
scavenging potentially harmful molecules called free radicals. This
antioxidant capacity has been shown to help boost immune function,
protect against cancer, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration of
the retina, and other chronic diseases. Vitamin C intake may be
particularly helpful to smokers, as they are more likely to suffer from
oxidative stress and cell damage that can deplete vitamin C. Vitamin C
also enhances iron uptake.
Where can you get Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is
obtainable from many types of fruits and vegetables. In dietary
supplements, it typically is sold in the form of ascorbic acid, calcium
ascorbate, Ester-C®, sodium ascorbate, or a combination of these forms.
Vitamin C and Blood Pressure
High blood pressure
is a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease. Vitamin C has been
shown to lower blood pressure and lower the risk of acquiring
cardiovascular disease. In clinical studies, persons with high
bloodstream levels of vitamin C had blood pressures 5-10% lower than
persons with low levels of vitamin C.
How does Vitamin C Help?
Vitamin C is a very
important nutrient. It may protect against high blood pressure
(hypertension), by protecting levels of nitric oxide, a natural chemical
in the body which helps relax blood vessels. Vitamin C promotes healthy
teeth and gums, helps in the absorption of iron, aids in the maintenance
of normal connective tissue, and promotes wound healing. It also helps
the body's immune system.
Vitamin C Deficiency
Lack of vitamin C can
lead to a condition called scurvy, which causes muscle weakness, swollen
and bleeding gums, loss of teeth, slow wound healing, bleeding under the
skin, as well as tiredness and depression. Vitamin C deficiency also
causes wounds to heal slowly.
Individuals who are
likely to be vitamin c deficient are people suffering from:
· AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
-
Alcoholism
-
Asthma
-
Burns
-
Cancer
-
Diarrhea
(prolonged)
-
Fever (prolonged)
-
Infection
(prolonged)
-
Intestinal diseases
-
Overactive thyroid
(hyperthyroidism)
-
Stomach ulcers
-
Stress (continuing)
-
Tuberculosis
-
Infants receiving
unfortified formulas
-
Smokers
-
Patients using an
artificial kidney (on hemodialysis)
-
Patients who
undergo surgery
-
Individuals who are
exposed to long periods of cold temperatures
Substance Interactions
The effect of vitamin C is decreased by
aspirin, tobacco, barbiturates, mineral oil, oral contraceptives,
salicylates, sulfa drugs and tetracyclines. Vitamin C will decrease the
effect of anti-cholinergics oral anticoagulants and copper.
A
study in the Journal of Epidemiology (May, 1992) was reported to show
that people who have high blood levels of vitamin C live 6 years longer
than those who have lower blood levels. The body eliminates vitamin C in
about 12 hours so distribute your intake throughout the day.
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