Vitamin C, also called Ascorbic Acid or Ascorbate, was discovered in 1747 by Scottish navel surgeon James Lind and was first synthesized in 1935.

Vitamin C is known as the grandfather of Antioxidants. It's necessary for many functions in your body and deficiency can happen within 1 month of being on a low Vitamin C diet. Humans are one of the few mammals that can not produce it on their own. Although we have the gene to make Vitamin C, it is not turned on and scientists have not figured out how to turn it on.
Studies show that because of our poor diet in North America, upwards of 33% of people are low in Vitamin C and upwards of 20% are severely deficient, producing symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency, otherwise known as Scurvy.

Symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency can include fatigue, irritability, frequent infections, swollen gums and nose bleeds. Also poor healing, aches and pains, shortness of breath, sore loose teeth and bone pain can occur.

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is an important antioxidant in your body protecting your body from free radical damage. It's a powerful electron donor for many enzymes, from making neurotransmitters in your brain, tyrosine, important for thyroid function, as well as the amino acids proline, and lysine.

It plays a role in the development and maintenance of blood vessels, scar tissue formation, and cartilage for structure of joints, ligaments, tendons and blood vessels.

Vitamin C is also involved in collagen production – part of your skin, heart, blood vessels, joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons.

Vitamin C also plays a significant role in anti-aging, memory and immune support – upregulating the white blood cells phagocytes, monocytes and lympthocytes.

What is Liposomal Vitamin C and How Does It Work?

Also called Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C, Liposomal Vitamin C is a special form of Vitamin C. Normally Vitamin C is considered a water soluble Vitamin, which means it can only be effective in fluid environments, specifically in your blood, and in the fluid outside and inside your cells. The problem is Vitamin C in this water soluble form has little effect in areas of your body that are fatty, specifically your brain, and the outside membranes of every cell in your body, including the cells that line your intestines, blood vessels, and organs. All cells are surrounded by a fatty phospholipid bi-layer. There are mechanisms for absorbing nutrients across this fatty phospholipid barrier but the easiest way is with something of similar structure like Liposomal Vitamin C. This provides better absorption of Vitamin C into all cells. Also, much free radical damage occurs at this cellular level and without the right kind of fat soluble antioxidant, your cell membranes are not protected.

Another area of concern is free radical damage to the Lipoproteins that carry fats and cholesterol in your blood. You may be familiar with LDL, known as 'bad' cholesterol and HDL known as 'good 'cholesterol. These are two kinds of Lipoproteins. Liposomal Vitamin C protects these Lipoproteins. Your body uses Lipoproteins to transport all fats in your body so it is important they remain in tact and functional. Lipoproteins are susceptible to oxidation damage and to protect lipoproteins you need a fat soluble antioxidant like Liposomal Vitamin C.

This is because Liposomal Vitamin C is formulated in an emulsified form using phospholipids from lecithin. The phospholipids in lecithin make Vitamin C fat soluble. Liposomal Vitamin C not only allows the Vitamin C to be an effective antioxidant where you need it at the cellular and Lipoprotein level, but it also allows for greater absorbability at the level of cell membranes and the intestines.

Normally oral Vitamin C has a threshold for how much your body can absorb from your intestines. This is called bowel tolerance. Each person's bowel tolerance varies from 1 to 20 grams daily. Diarrhea results once you've exceed your individual bowel tolerance. For those who want higher levels of Vitamin C, and IV Vitamin C is not an option, Liposomal Vitamin C increases your ability to absorb higher amounts without the side effects of diarrhea.

What is Liposomal Vitamin C used for?

Liposomal Vitamin C is used for anyone who wants to make sure they are receiving high amounts of Vitamin C. Studies show the average oral vitamin C will only allow 20-30% absorption. Liposomal Vitamin C increases this percentage greatly without negative side effects.

Studies show that Vitamin C at high doses is a supportive adjunctive therapy in the treatment of cancer.

Those whose diets are low in fruits and veggies will want to supplement with Liposomal Vitamin C as they will be at risk for developing Vitamin C deficiency. As such the elderly benefit from taking Liposomal Vitamin C.

Others susceptible to Vitamin C deficiency are those who smoke, as smoking depletes Vitamin C in our body.

Those with low immune function or chronic infections will also want to take Liposomal Vitamin C to ensure they are absorbing sufficient amounts for better immune fighting ability.

Also Liposomal Vitamin C is great for those who have low bowel tolerance for regular oral Vitamin C or for those who are already prone to loose stools and do not wish for this to be aggravated.

How do you use it?

Open packets and stir Liposomal Vitamin C into juice or a health shake.

Dosage depends on reason for taking Liposomal Vitamin C. For general health and anti-aging take 1000mg once to twice daily. For deficiency a min of 2000mg daily. And for chronic infections and adjunctive therapies take up to 10 000 mg daily in divided doses.