C? Si!

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin needed for the growth  and repair of tissues in all parts of the body. It is necessary  to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin,  scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C  is essential for the healing of wounds, and for the repair and  maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth. Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants. Vitamin E and  beta-carotene are two other well known antioxidants.  Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage  caused by free radicals, which are by- products that result  when our bodies transform food into energy. The build up  of these by-products over time is largely responsible for the  aging process and can contribute to the development of various  health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and a host  of inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Antioxidants also  help reduce the damage to the body caused by toxic chemicals  and pollutants such as cigarette smoke. The body does not manufacture vitamin C on its own, nor  does it store it. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in one's daily diet. Large amounts  of vitamin C are used by the body during any kind of healing  process, whether it's from an infection, disease, injury, or surgery.  In these cases supplemental vitamin C may be needed.

The University of Maryland Medical Center lists the following  uses for Vitamin C ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Heart Disease - Those with low levels of vitamin C may be more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or peripheral artery disease, all potential outcomes of atherosclerosis. Peripheral artery disease is the term used to describe atherosclerosis of the blood vessels to the legs. This can lead to pain with walking, known as intermittent claudication. In terms of damage that can cause atherosclerosis, some studies have shown that vitamin C helps prevent oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol - a process that contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries. Under most circumstances, dietary vitamin C is adequate for protecting gainst the development of or consequences from cardiovascular disease. If you have low levels of this nutrient, however, and find it difficult to obtain through dietary sources, a knowledgeable healthcare provider may recommend vitamin C supplements. High Cholesterol - Information from several studies, involving only small numbers of people, suggest that vitamin C (3 glasses of orange juice per day or up to 2000 mg per day as a supplement) may help decrease total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as increase HDL levels (the good kind of cholesterol). Studies evaluating larger groups of people would be helpful in determining how accurate these preliminary research results are and to whom this potential benefit applies.

High Blood Pressure - Free radicals, the damaging by-products  of metabolism mentioned earlier, are associated with higher  blood pressure in studies of animals and people. Population  based studies (which involve observing large groups of people  over time) suggest that people who eat foods rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, are less prone to high blood pressure than  people without these nutritious foods in their diet. For this reason,  many clinicians recommend foods rich in vitamin C, particularly  if you are at risk for high blood pressure. In fact, the diet most frequently recommended for treatment and prevention of hypertension, known as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)  diet advocates lots of fruits and vegetables, which are loaded with  antioxidants. Osteoarthritis - Vitamin C is essential for normal  cartilage. Plus, free radicals can be produced in the joints and  have been implicated in many degenerative changes in the aging  body, including destruction of cartilage and connective tissue  that lead to arthritis. Antioxidants appear to offset the damage  caused by free radicals. Although further evidence is needed to  substantiate these claims, studies of groups of people observed  over time suggest that vitamin C, as well as vitamin E, may help to  reduce the symptoms of OA.

Cataracts - Studies have shown that vitamin C may slow or even  stop the progression of cataracts in the elderly. A recent study, for example, of women from the Nurses' Health Study (a very large,  important study that has followed women over many years) showed  that women under 60 years of age who had high dietary intake of  vitamin C or who had used vitamin C supplements for 10 years or  more had significantly reduced chances of developing cataracts. Diabetes - Vitamin C may be helpful for people with diabetes in a number of ways. First, some studies suggest that people with  diabetes have high levels of free radicals (the damaging metabolic  by- products, mentioned earlier, associated with many chronic illnesses) and low levels of antioxidants, including vitamin C. This imbalance may contribute to the fact that those with diabetes are at greater risk for  developing conditions such as high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. Secondly, insulin (which is low in type 1 diabetics and does not  function properly in type 2 diabetics) helps cells in the body take  up the vitamin C that they need to function properly. At the same  time, lots of circulating blood sugar (glucose), as is often the  present in diabetics, prevents the cells from getting the vitamin C  that they need, even if eating lots of fruits of vegetables.  For this reason, taking extra vitamin C in the form of supplements  may be helpful in those with diabetes. Click Here to Learn More About Vitamin C.

Pro=For Biotic=Life... are you FOR life?

The University of Maryland Medical School lists the following therapeutic uses for probiotic supplements:

• Replacing the "friendly" intestinal bacteria destroyed by antibiotics
• Aiding digestion and suppressing bacteria
• Preventing and treating diarrhea, including diarrhea caused by rotavirus (a virus that commonly causes diarrhea in children)
• Treating overgrowth of "bad" organisms in the gastrointestinal tract (a condition that tends to cause diarrhea and may occur from use of antibiotics)
• Alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and, possibly, inflammatory bowel issues (such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis)
• Preventing and/or reducing the recurrence of vaginal yeast issues, urinary tract problems, and cystitis. The best scientific evidence exists for severe upsets in vaginal health.
• Improving lactose absorption digestion in people who are lactose intolerant
• Enhancing the immune response. Studies have suggested that consumption of yogurt or milk that contains specific strains of Lactobacillus or supplements with Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium may improve the natural immune response
• Aiding the treatment of respiratory issues such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia
• Lowering risk of allergies. Examples include ones that involve labored breathing, hay fever, food allergies to milk, and skin reactions such as eczema
• Helping to treat high cholesterol
• Reducing the risk of recurring bladder tumors once this life threatening problem has been treated
• Other conditions under investigation for use of probiotics include life threatening issues in the colon, and Helicobacter pylori, an organism that can lead to development of stomach problems which are difficult to resolve.

OK, so maybe you have seen that list before, but recent research published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows that taking probiotics even reduces anxiety! The study showed that people who took probiotics for 30 days were far less stressed than those who did not take probiotics. And here are a couple more reasons to take supplemental probiotics. New studies show that probiotics reduce the harmful bacteria that cause gum issues and cavities and users of probiotics also incur a reduced rate of developing colds and coughs.


I'd love to share my favorite way of getting all of the probiotics I need on a daily basis!