Synthetic vitamin C causes atherosclerosis

[Löwenherz]

I never understood how people can trust artificial products like vitamin pills.

Here is a nice article about synthetic vitamins:

http://drmarkbernhard.com/articles/the-whole-truth-about-vitamins

Among other things, the author of the article mentions three studies about synthetic vitamin C:

1998: A British study found that 500 mg of synthetic C promoted free radical damage of DNA; the opposite of the findings with whole food vitamin C, a natural anti-oxidant.

2000: Reuters Health reports a study on men who took 500 mg of synthetic vitamin C daily. Over an 18-month period, they had a 250% increase in the thickness of the inner lining of the carotid artery, a measurement for the progression of atherosclerosis. That is, synthetic vitamin C induced atherosclerosis, even at .5 grams/day. Whole food vitamin C protects and repairs the inner lining of blood vessels and is a preventative against atherosclerosis.

2003: A study of men taking 500 mg of synthetic Vitamin C daily found that, over an 18 month period, they had a 250% increase in the inner lining of the carotid artery. This thickening is a measurement of the progression of atherosclerosis. In other words, synthetic Vitamin C induced atherosclerosis even at a dose of 500 mg per day.


Löwenherz

[Iguana]

Yes, I couldn't agree more. Synthetic vitamins and supplements are noxious and should be totally avoided. In his books published in 1963, Günther Schwab explained this very well.

[goodsamaritan]

I think this has got to be a core message for newbies to raw paleo.
We are here looking for complete nutrition.
Must be shared with other friends and family.

[LePatron7]

I'm not sure I agree with this article.

When I started raw paleo, I got very sick from stopping all my supplements.

When I started back on the niacin I got better almost instantly.

While I agree it's best to get vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, etc. from a healthy raw diet, I think there are instances where supplements are necessary.

Like for me, I need niacin. There's no way to get 1,000 mg per meal using whole foods.

Again, I'm all for getting vitamins and everything else from food. But I do think in some cases supplements are necessary.

[goodsamaritan]

Of course there are exceptions.
There are special needs, especially for emergencies.

[cherimoya_kid]

I knew my instincts for avoiding synthetic vitamin C were good.

I still take vitamin D, but that's because I see so many health benefits from it.

Sometimes i take magnesium too, but I don't think it causes any real problems.

[TylerDurden]

Yes, I couldn't agree more. Synthetic vitamins and supplements are noxious and should be totally avoided. In his books published in 1963, Günther Schwab explained this very well.

Was Schwab a rawist? Then I could perhaps add mention of his books in a relevant sticky thread.

[Iguana]

Günther Schwab on Wikipedia
“The dance with the devil” is available on line, apparently on a religious website even if the book has nothing to do with religion. It just uses “the devil” words as a metaphor; the whole book reads like a kind fiction novel in the form of an interview with the devil in his premises.
Dance With The Devil, by Gunther Schwab – a must read.

No, not completely rawist but on the same trend.

[Adora]

I am still taking vit c. I haven't been able to come off without getting quite ill. I immediately feel better when I restart it. I don't want to be on them forever but I haven't been able to withstand the detox. I'm down to 1gram/day and feeling good. I have been eating as much raw seafood as I can afford. I feel like that is helping me to feel better decreasing vit C. Maybe its yhe natural iodine in the shellfish that helps.I also take CLO, vit D, and just started Mg. If I could rest and heal for months that would be a different story but, I can figure a realistic way to accomplish that. I do what I can, I don't smoke or drink, it's a vitamin. It's good info I'm glad to have it in mind. Thanks.

[Löwenherz]

I am still taking vit c. I haven't been able to come off without getting quite ill.

Which symptoms do you get?

Löwenherz

[goodsamaritan]

I am still taking vit c. I haven't been able to come off without getting quite ill.

I think the lesson in the article here is to replace your ascorbic acid type "vitamin c" with a whole food vitamin c supplement.

[cherimoya_kid]

Grapes tend to be high in vitamin C.  Actually high, I tested them in junior high school in science class.  Oddly, oranges had no vitamin C at all.

Phil, I think you had this same experience, right?

[aLptHW4k4y]

I think the lesson in the article here is to replace your ascorbic acid type "vitamin c" with a whole food vitamin c supplement.

Vitamin C is the same ascorbic acid in supplements and foods and in animals that can produce it themselves, so something doesn't fit in those studies.

[TylerDurden]

Vitamin C is the same ascorbic acid in supplements and foods and in animals that can produce it themselves, so something doesn't fit in those studies.

No it isn't the same. A processed supplement will never have the right enzymes etc. that a more natural version thereof will have.

[RawZi]

    I like the prittee one.  Just joking, but I saw a wall chart years ago with natural and synthetic C crystals years ago in my chiropractor's office. They were so different from each other, more than this picture.  This one is from a site on Henry Kellogg.