Ester C

ESTER C

What is Ester C?

So you’ve decided to start taking a vitamin C supplement; however, you are now faced with a gigantic selection of vitamin C options. How on earth are you supposed to choose? Here's a run down of one of the most popular vitamin c supplements on the market, Ester C.

The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all supplement, you need to select a formula that caters to your particular health status, the health of your digestive tract, and your ultimate health goals.

Ester C comes with an impressive amount of research to its name. This is a patented form of buffered vitamin C (calcium ascorbate), combined with a range of vitamin C metabolites. The fact that Ester C is buffered makes it especially easy on the digestive tract, so ideal for those with a sensitive stomach, who have a tendency to get GI upset when taking regular vitamin C (ascorbic acid) – i.e. stomach irritation, gas, diarrhea, etc. Ester C also happens to offer excellent bioavailability and is quickly absorbed (especially the chewable formula), as opposed to many other forms of vitamin C. Last but certainly not least, Ester C supplementation has been shown to increases vitamin C levels in the body for up to 24 hours (a definite plus as far as antioxidant protection goes), as well as results in a “significantly higher retention of vitamin C in white blood cells”. For this reason alone, this may be the ideal form of vitamin C for those with weakened immunity, as well as for those who seem to catch every infection that's going around.

Benefits of Ester C

• Boosts Immunity

• Excellent Bioavailability & Absorption

• Fights the Cold & Flu

• Ideal for Those with a Sensitive GI Tract

• Neutralizes Intestinal Acids

Who Needs It?

Ester C may be recommended to you to strengthen your immune system, enhance your antioxidant protection, support tissue growth and repair, support hormone production, protect your body from toxins, and support optimal cell growth. It may also be suggested to help regulate your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood clotting, as well as protect overall cardiovascular health.

In supplements, Ester C is often combined with bioflavonoids which further helps bolster immune function, as well as is ideal to help manage all kinds of allergies; seasonal, food, environmental, etc.

Potency & Dosing

Ester C formulas are offered in capsules, tablets, and powder, as well as in chewable form, in a potency range typically between 500 and 1,000mg. The recommended dose is usually somewhere between 500mg and 4g daily, to be taken in divided doses for better absorption.

Final Thoughts

The calcium in Ester C (calcium ascorbate) can interfere with the absorption of certain medications, especially when taken together. Some of the medications known to be affected by the use of Ester C include quinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin), tetracycline antibiotics (doxycycline, minocycline), thyroid medications (levothyroxine), and osteoporosis medications (bisphosphonates such as alendronate). If you are on any prescription medicines, speak with your health care practitioner before starting to take Ester C (they will advise on how long you should wait after taking one, to take the other).