www.nutri.com/wn/whchc.html
WHICH FORM OF VITAMIN C SHOULD I USE ??
Wholesale Nutrition offers several forms of vitamin C from which the consumer
must choose one or more to suit his particular requirements. We'll just list the
different forms, their 1999 thru 2002 prices per gram, and discuss their pros
and cons. All prices include shipping/handling to USA & Canada. (1 gram =
1000 mg)
ASCORBIC ACID CRYSTALS: At 2.8 cents/gram, this form is most economical.
These pure crystals have either a nice tart taste, or a sour taste, depending on
the palate. Being 100% vitamin C, ascorbic acid crystals are the most
concentrated form of the vitamin (about 4 grams per level teaspoon). They go
well with orange juice, apple juice, and lemonade, but if you're trying to cut
corners, you may be using a nickel's worth of juice just to take a penny's worth
of our vitamin C. These crystals can be put into a salt shaker and used as a
lemon substitute and sprinkled in tea or on fish. Ascorbic acid crystals are
also used for maintaining the fresh appearance of fruits and meats and in
canning and preserving (1 or 2 grams per jar). Some persons with sensitive
stomachs dislike the acidity, while others take a few grams at once to kill
heartburn.
ASCORBIC ACID TABLETS: (4.7 cents/gram) These are convenient in that they
can be kept handy in purse, car, or bedside. Your intake is easily monitored
since each tablet contains 500 mg of Vitamin C and 50 mg of citrus
bioflavonoids. All tablets must contain excipients such as binders and
lubricants. We use a non-nutritive cellulose binder to hold the tablet together,
and a very small amount of a common edible fat (stearic acid) as our lubricant
(so tablets won't stick in the tableting machine). We of course add no sugars,
colors, artificial sweeteners, or any other undesirable ingredients. Ascorbic
acid tablets are not meant as a source of megadoses of vitamin C since dozens of
tablets per day would introduce excessive amounts of excipients into the body to
which some persons may be sensitive. These tablets should never be chewed as
tooth enamel damage can occur over the years. It's best to take them with some
food and water since an unchewed tablet might cause some temporary local
irritation to a sensitive stomach wall until the tablet finally breaks up.
SODIUM ASCORBATE CRYSTALS: (3.5 cents per gram of C) are used to avoid
the acidity of ascorbic acid by sensitive persons. Many like the slightly salty
taste as a substitute for table salt. Its sodium content (131 mg per gram of C)
may be objectionable to those with hypertension or water retention problems. But
this form is used in intravenous drips where dozens of grams/day of sodium don't
seem to be a problem. Recent research indicates that only sodium chloride (table
salt) may be the culprit. Anyway, sodium is a necessary ingredient for the body
and a sodium-free diet is not recommended. Sodium ascorbate can be added to many
foods such as milk and soup without affecting taste. It's also used as a
sugar-free, additive- free, substitute for toothpaste (brush and swallow) for
double use of your sodium ascorbate crystals (never use ascorbic ACID on teeth).
Since sodium ascorbate is usually used for vitamin C megadoses, we don't offer a
tablet form since a large excipient intake would result.
CALCIUM ASCORBATE CRYSTALS: (5.3 cents per gram of vitamin C) are
preferred, despite the bitter taste, as the best source of easily absorbable
calcium, as well as vitamin C. It contains NO sodium AND is NON-acid. It is also
a good toothpaste substitute, leaving a refreshing and astringent feeling in the
mouth (see previous paragraph). Calcium ascorbate should NOT be your sole source
of megadose C or a calcium overload may result. About 10 grams per day will
supply the RDA (1 gram) of calcium for an adult.
CHEWABLE VITAMIN C: (9.7 cents per gram) may be the only way to get
vitamin C down the kids. A nice tart taste, the convenience of tablets, and only
very slightly acid. These chewables contain rose hips, acerola, and citrus
bioflavonoids (the benefits of which are still controversial). Because sodium
ascorbate is used to keep down the acidity, so as not to affect tooth enamel,
each tablet contains 23 mg of sodium (plus 250 mg of C). The excipients are the
same as in the Ascorbic Acid Tablets, except we added a natural citrus flavor,
and sorbitol, a non-sugar natural sweetener.
C-SALTS: At just 4.7 cents per gram of vitamin C, C-Salts is probably
the best all-round value.
ANDREW WEIL, MD, in his 1990 book "Natural Health, Natural Medicine" (p.340),
says:
"THE BEST FORM OF VITAMIN C I HAVE FOUND IS CALLED C-SALTS ....
MADE BY WHOLESALE NUTRITION" - a testimonial par excellence!
In 1997, Dr. Weil, in "8 Weeks to Optimum Health" (pp.57 & 253), again
recommended C-Salts, stating
that IT WAS THE VITAMIN C PRODUCT HE LIKED TO
USE!!
When a rounded teaspoon is added to just 1/8 glass of cold water, a
good-tasting, effervescent drink is obtained containing 4 grams (4000 mg) of
vitamin C plus 14% of your RDA of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, all
as their ascorbates. Of Vitamin C's acidity, over 90% is neutralized - and there
is NO sodium. And absolutely NO excipients, either. C-Salts can go flat if left
open a few times. Its C-content, though, will not be affected. Avoid moist
spoons and splashing, and always put the cap right back on after using. Taste
variations will occur from batch to batch since we add no coverup flavors. Read
more in our C-Salts Flyer.
POTASSIUM ASCORBATE: (7.1 cents/gram of C) A rounded teaspoon into
just an ounce of water gives you a fine tasting, effervescent Potassium
Ascorbate drink containing 700 mg of potassium and 4 grams of vitamin C, and
that's all! Dr Cathcart says it makes a good substitute for the potassium
chloride prescribed for heart patients. DON'T make this product your only source
of vitamin C since 20 drinks/day (1/2 bottle) can be fatal to an adult! If you
plan taking over two rounded TEAspoons per day, please consult your doctor,
especially if you have kidney problems. Unfortunately, Potassium Ascorbate is
tasty as well as deadly - so keep it away from the kids and the unthinking!
Remember Murphy's law: If it CAN happen, it WILL! Potassium Ascorbate is very
humidity sensitive. See the previous paragraph on C-Salts.
MAGNESIUM ASCORBATE: (6.5 cents/gram of C) A rounded teaspoon into 1
oz. of water results in a slightly effervescent Magnesium Ascorbate drink with
170 mg of magnesium, 4 mg of B6, and 3 grams of C.
ASCORBYL PALMITATE: At 30 cents/gram of vitamin C, this is the most
expensive source of C (200 grams of Ascorbyl Palmitate is equivalent to 85 grams
of pure vitamin C). This is the fat (oil) soluble form of C and is used as an
antioxidant and preservative in foods, vitamins, drugs and cosmetics. Ascorbyl
Palmitate acts synergistically with other antioxidants such as vitamin E. Its
antioxidant activity is proportional to its use level, even when exceeding its
solubility. There is no restriction on the use level of ascorbyl palmitate as a
food preservative. Other antioxidants are limited to .02% of the fat content.
© 1981 Wholesale Nutrition
PO Box 3345, Saratoga CA 95070
US/Can:
800 325 2664
Foreign: 408 871 9519
Email: wn@nutri.com
Fax: 408 867 6236