Vitamin C Get Started Guide

***THE FOLLOWING IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. PLEASE SEE YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY MEDICAL CONCERNS.***

Glossary
Ascorbic Acid (AA) - Ascorbic Acid is Vitamin C

Bowel Tolerance - This is the amount of Vitamin C that your body can absorb at a particular point in time. It is just below the level where you will flush. You know you’ve reached bowel tolerance when you are gassy, yay! 

Flush - When you take enough Vitamin C to have loose stools. There are health benefits to flushing - more on this below and how to flush.


Step One: Obtain Vitamin C
From Katie Gironda, owner of Revitalize Wellness:
“When beginning this protocol it is necessary to buy ascorbic acid. Sodium ascorbate is ascorbic acid mixed with sodium bicarbonate to balance the PH of the powder. Sodium ascorbate is much easier on the stomach yet it is not absorbed as effectively as ascorbic acid. Sodium ascorbate is safe in smaller doses but not for bowel tolerance or flushing. Use caution with the amount of sodium that is being ingested. Vitamin c high doses will not deplete other nutrients. It will enhance the absorption and utilization of them and you may experience deficiency symptoms because your body needs more. Whole food C is not advisable at the doses sufficient to maintain optimal health. Ascorbic acid is made from glucose that is usually derived from corn. From all of the analysis sheets I have reviewed, not a trace of corn is ever present. But, for severe allergies can find tapioca or beet derived ascorbic acid.

Some people experience tooth sensitivity with ASCORBIC acid. Ways to reduce this issue are, dilute ASCORBIC adequately, rinse with water, use capsules, use a straw, avoid consuming any food an hour after taking aa, and do not take any vitamin c supplements with sugar.

Vitamin c detoxes and accelerates healing. Because of this there is an increased need for supporting nutrients like vitamin a and vitamin d.

Brands we recommend:
It is important that we recommend the highest quality brands.
Revitalize Wellness, a brand that was born from this group includes:
Extremely fine powder:
https://www.revitalizewellness.org/store/c5/Powders.html
Other trustworthy brands:
Bulk Supplements
Doctor’s Best
Vitamin C Foundation Quali C”
 
From Susan: We have found many pure ascorbic acid powders through Amazon. Here are a couple brands we’ve used: 
Pure
Nutricost

There are many, just be sure that whatever you order is food grade, pure ascorbic acid. 

**Note: Tablets of Vitamin C may be useful - Especially when beginning or in addition to powder. Tablets are not great for taking large amounts on a continual basis because of the additional ingredients. We found it is more difficult to reach bowel tolerance or flush with them too. 

The powder is sour in taste, but can be added to water/juice/smoothies etc. Or you can do it as a “shot” with a small amount of water like we do! You get used to it. ;-) 

Step 2: Take as much Vitamin C as YOUR body needs. Remember:

1. Every person is different and 
2. The amount an individual needs varies too

It takes time and experimenting to figure out your ideal dosage. The important thing is to take it consistently and keep learning!

From Theo Farmer:
“If you study the biochemistry of ascorbate (vitamin C) in living systems, then the general rule you discover is the higher level of ascorbate available, the healthier the system." In animals that produce it, some spend up to 30% of their energy producing vitamin C. The limitation is how much energy they can dedicate just to that, so they produce enough to keep them healthy, a little excess, but they can hit a limit and get sick. In humans, we don't use our internal energy to produce it (we do use some to recycle it), but we produce it in factories and the amount we take is limited only by our bowel tolerance. It's best to always push toward bowel tolerance.”


In other words - it is ideal to shoot for bowel tolerance as often as possible! Practically speaking, for most of us that means we can usually be taking MORE. It takes time and practice to create this habit. 


QUICK GUIDE:

1. Start with a lower amount at first - 500 mg (½ gram) with your breakfast. 
2. After a week take 1000 mg (1 gram) with breakfast)
3. Continue to increase the amount and doses per day. For example, take 1 gram with breakfast and lunch. After a few days, increase the amount by 500-1000 mg so you are now taking 1,500-2,000 mg (1.5 - 2 grams).
4. Whenever you feel like you may be getting sick, take more and more often!
5. If you are sick, take Vitamin C until your symptoms subside. When they come back, take more. You may flush - that’s a good thing!

Remember - the amount of Vitamin C you need will vary. Sometimes you don’t feel “sick” but your tolerance goes way up and you can take a lot! That means your body needs it and is using it. Use your intuition! 


Another Guide from Katie Gironda:
How to get started with C when NOT sick:
1. Acquire high-quality ascorbic acid in capsule, tablet or powder form. (See above for recommendations)
2. Day 1-3: take 1000 mg every 4 hours, getting in 4000 mg your first day. For some people, they may never need to exceed this dose, but for most, it will be a starting point
3. Day 4-7: take 2000 mg every 4 hours, getting in 8000 mg.
4. Day 8-11: take 3000 mg every 4 hours, getting in 12000 mg.
5. Day 12-14: take 4000 mg every 4 hours, getting in 16,000 mg
*some people may need to start with 500 mg.
* this is a suggested schedule only, your body may do fine ramping up faster or may need to go slower.
*Please note that ¼ teaspoon of a pure power=1000 mg. there is nothing wrong with using capsules or tablets but powders have the least fillers.
The goal of the above ramp-up is to find your bowel tolerance. This is the dose where you start to feel gas and rumbling, which occurs at the maximum point at which your body can absorb C orally. This is a gentle and simple way to get started with C and achieves the main goal, which is to get blood levels as high as possible, which is when healing can occur. Please master the above first before moving on to flushing with C, which is a powerful detox strategy and remedy for many GI complaints.

Flushing for Advanced Vitamin C Connoisseurs:

How to do a Vitamin C Flush
When to do a flush:
*When you suffer from digestive issues
*After illness
*When you are having less than one bowel movement per day
*After giving birth
*To flush out toxins
 
Adult Flush
Take 3-5 grams of ascorbic acid every 15 minutes until you experience rumbling or gas. Stop and wait or slow down. Sometimes if you continue on you will experience prolonged flushing. This will deplete nutrients and is not recommended. Keep track of the total dose amount that causes a flush. Subtract 10% from that dose and divide that amount up throughout every day. Over time the dose will go down as the body detoxes and heals. Flushing is quick watery or loose stools. Not prolonged diarrhea. After the loose bowels stop, continue taking 1-2 grams every hour for the rest of the day.
 
Child Flush
Children can benefit from a flush as well. Use 1-3 grams of ascorbic acid every 15-30 minutes. When they begin complaining of stomach upset slow down. Lower the dose to 1 gram every 15 minutes until loose stools occur. Keep track of the total dose amount that causes a flush. Subtract 10% from that dose and divide that amount up throughout every day. Over time the dose will go down as the body detoxes and heals. Flushing is quick watery or loose stools. Not prolonged diarrhea. After the loose bowels ease up, continue taking 1 gram every hour for the rest of the day.
 
Pregnant women and babies are not recommended to do the flush.
 
2-4 ounces of water is enough for one teaspoon of ascorbic acid. Stay hydrated but don’t overdo it or the bloating will be worse. Coconut water, sole, or other sources of minerals is a good drink to use.
 
Things that may help a flush move along easily:
*Not eating beforehand
*Juicing and other sources of fiber
*Coconut oil melted in warm water
*Sometimes a light meal towards the end of a flush will push it along