We’ve all heard of Vitamin C supplements. In fact many of us have taken it during cold & flu season since we were small children. It’s the one that mom placed beside your cereal bowl in the morning and wouldn’t let you leave the table until you took it:) As adults, Vitamin C is often one of those wellness products we take mindlessly (often during winter months) knowing its likely to have some sort of positive impact on our health if we’re consistent. But health supplements are not all created equal and there’s no exception when it comes to Vitamin C. There’s a common misconception that ANY source of Vitamin C is more or less equally effective but this assumption is easily disproven when we look at all the different characteristics and varieties that is offered in Vitamin C supplements.  Anytime we're shopping for health it warrants a little extra research than just buying a new pair of jeans to ensure that what we buy will give us the maximum benefits and the least amount of unwanted complications or side effects. The good news is that you don’t have to do all the work yourself!

Keep reading for a specific guide on Vitamin C supplement selection to ensure you get the most effectiveness from this vitamin and the best value for your money.

The Basics: Why Take A Vitamin C Supplement?

Vitamin C has a plays a number of critical roles in the body including collagen production, the healing of scrapes or wounds, and the fighting off of infections or unwanted bacteria. Without it, collagen synthesis wouldn’t be possible, which would seriously compromise our health, given that the body’s most predominant protein - collagen is an irreplaceable connective element. Moreover, Vitamin C is of vital importance when it comes to maintaining healthy immune function and combating free radical damage to healthy cellular mitochondria. Vitamin C is also known as a powerful antioxidant promoting healthy cardiovascular function and aiding the management of cholesterol and triglycerides. Even people who tend to steer away from taking any health supplements, often take vitamin C due to all its well-proven health benefits.

But I Can Get Vitamin C From My Diet, Why Would I Take A Supplement?

Fair Question! While there are no shortage of dietary sources of this antioxidant (strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, and brussel sprouts to name just a few) taking a premium Vitamin C supplement will give you additional health benefits and ensure you don't run the risk of a Vitamin C deficiency. FDA recommended daily vitamin C dosages for healthy individuals is between 65-90mg, 85mg for pregnant women, and 120mg for breastfeeding women. (1) However, studies stemming from the late work of Dr. Linus Pauling suggest that megadosing with Vitamin C can be an effective therapy for more serious health conditions. (2) Daily Vitamin C dosages can increase exponentially using IV therapy or with liposomal delivery. However, only use these methods under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

What Characteristics Should You Look For Before Buying

Bioavailability

One of the first things to look for when considering a Vitamin C supplement is bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to the percentage of Vitamin C that can be actively be absorbed and utilized efficiently in the body. Naturally, you’d want to opt for a high absorbency formula, which will allow your body to benefit the most. In other words, poorly formulated Vitamin C supplements could turn out to be a significant waste of money if your body is only absorbing around 20% of the actual vitamin. This is common with traditional forms of Vitamin C such as tablets, capsules, and powders.

When it comes to the highest bioavailability, liposomal vitamins come out on top. The liposomal encapsulation of vitamins made from fat-soluble phospholipid membranes which encase and protect the nutrient until it has reached the targeted cell ensure that all of the vitamin is transported into the cells that need it most. In addition, the phospholipid membrane is identical to our own cellular membrane, making it easier for the liposome and the cell to fuse. This direct and shielded delivery process yields a higher percentage of Vitamin C delivered to where it is needed the most. By contrast, traditional forms of vitamin C go largely unabsorbed by the body, yielding a much lower percentage of the vitamin to the actual cell. Studies show that Liposomal Encapsulation Technology (LET) enhances Vitamin C bioavailability to up to 90%. It can also be an effective alternative to IV Vitamin C treatments. (3).

Side-Effects

Often hidden or downplayed, the side-effects of many prescription medications and some health supplements can be a large enough reason not to take them at all. Though it may come as a surprise to some, Vitamin C is no exception. Digestive discomfort in the form of abdominal cramps and diarrhea are common side effects of Vitamin C tablets or larger doses of the vitamin. Though manufacturers often add ethyl-esters and mineral ascorbates which aim to ease digestive discomfort they too can have numerous side effects when larger doses are being taken. A further advantage of taking a Liposomal Vitamin C is that due to the advanced delivery technology that bypasses the digestive system, no side-effects are felt even when megadosing.

Quality of Ingredients

The quality and origin of ingredients in a Vitamin C supplement are of utmost importance when it comes to the overall quality of the product. While the list of ingredients is often downplayed by the many features and health benefits that Vitamin C offers, ideally you want your Vitamin C supplement to contain clean, all-natural ingredients. Certain Vitamin C supplements may include sucrose (sometimes from a GMO source), stearic acid, carrageenan, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, and vegetable magnesium stearate. These artificial flavors and additives can be harmful to your health compromising the benefits of taking Vitamin C in the first place. To say it more bluntly, you shouldn’t have to consume a load of sugar or chemicals just to get the vitamins you need. Read the ingredients panel carefully and consult a healthcare provider if you have any questions or doubts.

When choosing a Vitamin C that's best for you, look for clear labeling and ingredients that promote all-natural or even organic ingredients and a minimal quantity of them. Vitamin C is essentially pure ascorbic acid, so there shouldn’t be a long list of ingredients that accompany this main key ingredient. Exceptions may be contents used to encapsulate or encase the vitamin, like what's contained in a Liposomal Vitamin C supplement.  Amandean’s premium formula is made with non-GMO sunflower lecithin (avoid formulas that use soy lecithin) to produce the liposome carriers, as well as other safe ingredients including purified water, glycerin, natural flavor extracts (no juice), and stevia, which replaces any sugar-based additives.

Other ingredients that have a green light when it comes to a good supplement choices are acerola, camu camu, rose hips, and bioflavonoids.

Manufacturing & Testing

As with any product, you should never blindly follow trends and base your judgment solely upon the hype surrounding one specific brand.. When it comes to your health and the supplements you’re implementing in your daily diet, consider the fine print and read reviews! A manufacturer’s reputation is built on consumer impressions and reviews, as well as the quality of ingredients and how the product has been produced. As far as Vitamin C supplements are concerned, you should look for manufacturers who prioritize the purity of their ingredients and also tell you about what their customers say without reservation. Look for accounts of how the Vitamin C has made a positive difference to customers’ health or beauty, especially where it concerns your own health goals or concerns. Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to customer service and simply ask if you have any questions. That’s what they’re there for!

It’s also important to understand what certifications or testing processes your Vitamin C has undergone to make sure selective ingredients haven’t been compromised or damaged in the process of production. For example, Amandean’s Liposomal Vitamin C is manufactured in the USA and produced at a cGMP (add reference) facility without the use of high heat or solvents. Be certain to read the fine print on the label to make sure you know what you’re getting. Again, never be afraid to ask a healthcare professional or customer service if you have doubts.

Value For Money

In your quest for a high-quality Vitamin C supplement, you’re bound to come across plenty of overhyped and overpriced products. Slap a celebrity’s face on the front of the container and the price triples. However, the truth is that a high price doesn’t necessarily equal the best product. At times, what you’re paying for is a brand’s popularity, instead of premium quality ingredients or proven results. For this reason, you want to look at other factors besides price to determine value for money. First check to see there is information about the absorbency or bioavailability of a particular Vitamin C listed on the package. Also check the purity of ingredients and whether the product contains any ingredients you would ordinarily stay away from including certain sweeteners or processed additives. Basically, what you should be getting from a premium Vitamin C supplement is a high absorbency level and clean ingredients from a manufacturer who puts quality before anything else. Only if you’re satisfied with all three of these aspects are you truly getting your money’s worth.

Extra Tip: Buy A Collagen Powder Alongside Your Vitamin C Supplement For To Supercharge Health & Beauty Benefits

Vitamin C is required for collagen synthesis along with the amino acids proline and lysine. Collagen is the structural protein found in all animal tissue. It holds our muscles to our bones, provides structural support for veins and arteries, and more. As we age the amount of collagen our body can produce decreases and supplementation is advised. When you take Vitamin C and Collagen supplements together, you supercharge collagen production in body, and maximize the health & anti-aging beauty benefits you get from both supplements.

Summary

Choosing the best Vitamin C supplement can be a daunting task when there are so many choices and publicity telling you what to buy. Use this list above as your quality-control guide and be sure to check out Amandean’s Liposomal Vitamin C as the most bioavailable Vitamin C on the market.

Article References

1. National Institute of Health, "Vitamin C Fact Sheet for Health Professionals"
(Recommended Intakes) https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/

2. Medical News Today, "Vitamin C, Linus Pauling was right all along. A doctor's opinion"
Author: Dr Hilary Roberts, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/12154.php

3.NCBI, "Liposomal-encapsulated ascorbic scid: influence on vitamin C bioavailability and capacity to protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury". https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27375360