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Ascorbate: The Science of Vitamin C
The relationship between vitamin C and health is controversial. Double Nobel Prize winner, Linus Pauling, argued that ascorbate could prevent or cure heart disease, stroke, cancer and infections. Conventional experts disagreed, disparaging supplements in favour of fruits and vegetables. This book presents a new model, describing the action of vitamin C in health and disease. It demonstrates conclusively that the establishment has misinterpreted the evidence, potentially resulting in epidemic levels of avoidable disease. The dynamic flow model explains the current results and points the way for future experiments. Vitamin C supplementation could eradicate many diseases. In pharmacological doses, it could cure the major killers of the industrialised world. Failure to test these ideas may condemn countless people to chronic illness and premature death.
Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2004
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March 10, 2012
This book has a great section on `the scientific method' and how to think for yourself and use logic, rarher than just accepting that what is well-known and accepted is always accurarte and unbiased. It should be essential reading for all doctors!
This is a great book but seems more suitable for doctors than patients, as it has a quite formal writing style and is far more heavy going to read. While the creation of this book is admirable, there is little in this book that is not covered just as well or better in `Vitamin C: The real story' and it is this book I would recommend of the two, although the books are very similar in content and quality.
This is still a very solid book however, of a very high quality. The sections on scientific method and the bias and illogicality of our medical system are just wonderful.
The importance of vitamin C cannot be overemphasised.
Vitamin C in an appropriate dose:
1. is a powerful antioxidant (and also helps recycle other antioxidants),
2. is anti-carcinogenic (reduces the risk of developing various cancers),
3. supports the immune system by improving the host response to disease (making the body more able to fight off any secondary infections) and improving the function of white blood cells,
4. can stop recurrent boils (furunculosis) (people with this condition may have defects in white blood cell function that are correctable with vitamin C supplementation),
5. has antiviral and antibacterial effects (it controls and maintains phagocytosis),
6. supports the adrenal glands (and supporting the adrenals also supports the thyroid),
7. supports the cardiac/cardiovascular system and assists in the maintenance of peripheral circulation (including improving the blood flow to the brain) and maintaining capillaries,
8. is a natural chelator and helps to remove heavy metals and other toxins from the body ( this improved detoxification may markedly improve your tolerance of pollution and toxic chemicals),
9. safeguards the body from the effects of high blood sugar (glycation) and helps to normalise blood sugar and improve hypoglycaemia. Vitamin C is important in the digestion of food, the biochemistry of the body's utilization of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and it has a pronounced activating effect on insulin,
10. reduces the severity of colds, flu's, and Candida infections,
11. has an antihistamine effect and can reduce or prevent symptoms of hayfever and food allergy,
12. can prevent asthma attacks (and possibly some SIDS deaths),
13. helps to reduce the toxic load of metabolised fat which occurs during weight loss, and helps support the liver during weight loss,
14. acts as an electron donor for eight different enzymes,
15. aids in the formation of liver bile,
16. may have an antidepressant effect and help the body handle emotional stress better,
17. counteracts some of the damaging effects of aspirin and heighten its pain killing effect, and also acts as an pain reliever in its own right (at bowel tolerance doses),
18. increases the therapeutic effect of different drugs and medicines by making them more effective (less of a drug is required if it is taken in combination with large amounts of ascorbic acid),
19. can help improve joint mobility (if serum levels of C are high, synovial fluid is thinner allowing for easier joint movement) and reduce inflammation and fever,
20. helps with connective tissue repair (especially collagen) and maintaining healthy teeth and bones (high dose vitamin C can help reduce tooth loss and cavities),
21. helps promote wound healing,
22. promotes eye health in many different ways (prevents cataracts, glaucoma etc.),
23. helps to produce the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine,
24. can cause sensations of overwhelming physical wellbeing,
25. is essential to the proper functioning of the central nervous system.
Vitamin C is involved in almost every bodily process and helps our bodies maintain homeostasis. Irwin Stone explains in his book on vitamin C that,
"Throughout the evolution of the vertebrates, including the mammals, Nature has used ascorbic acid to maintain physiological homeostasis. In simple nontechnical terms, this means that when stressful situations arose which disturbed the biochemical equilibrium of the animal, ascorbic acid was produced in increased quantities to get things running normal again. The amount of ascorbic acid produced is related to the severity of the stresses and if enough was produced soon enough, then the animal was able to survive the bad biochemical effects of the stresses. If, however, the enzyme system for producing ascorbic acid was overwhelmed or poisoned by the stresses and too little ascorbic acid was produced, then the animal succumbed. Man, unable to produce his own ascorbic acid, could not take advantage of this natural protective process. Instead stresses only further depleted his low stores of this vital metabolite. Now he can easily duplicate this time-tested defensive mechanism by reaching for the bottle of ascorbic acid and swallowing additional quantities whenever he is subjected to biochemical stresses. In duplicating this normal process for combating stresses, man has one great advantage over the other mammals -- he can get an unlimited supply of ascorbic acid without being dependent upon an enzyme system which may not produce enough, quickly enough. All man needs to know is how much to take.
One of the outstanding attributes of ascorbic acid is its lack of toxicity even when given in large doses over long periods of time. This has been recognized since the 1930s, and ascorbic acid can be rated as one of the least toxic substances known of comparable physiological activity. It can be administered in huge doses, intravenously, without registering any serious side effects."
The best form of vitamin C appears to be the new liposomal vitamin C which has a similar effect to vitamin C given by IV. For more information see Dr Levy's vitamin C book 'Curing the Incurable.'
Dr Levy writes:
"I found that liposome encapsulated vitamin C, taken orally, was roughly 10 times more effective clinically in resolving infectious diseases than the IVC. Having given thousands of IVCs and taken hundreds myself, this was difficult to comprehend, even though the clinical observation was quite straightforward. I subsequently realized that the liposome gave the ultimate bioavailability: intracellular delivery, including the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and even the nucleus. 2 to 6 packets daily covers most individuals for most situations."
As The Vitamin C Foundation explain,
"Almost 100% absorption is the key. Liposomal vitamin C is released from the liposomes in the liver almost perfectly imitating the animal release of vitamin C. The liposomal form of vitamin C may become important oral cancer adjunct by helping to maintain high blood levels of ascorbate - vitamin C, especially in people who have trouble tolerating ordinary pills due to gas and diarrhoea.
Our tests with liposomal vitamin C have been amazing. No gas or diarrhoea at double the dosages that usually create these effects in our subjects. The Foundation recommends utilizing Lypo-C after you reach bowel tolerance with ordinary ascorbic acid.
'Liposome-encapsulated Ascorbate Liposomes were first proposed as a unique drug delivery system approximately 35 years ago (Bangham, 1995; Gregoriadis, 1995). One of the primary reasons for utilizing a liposome-encapsulation delivery system is to assure a near complete absorption of the encapsulated nutrient or drug into the bloodstream. The physical qualities of the liposome also eliminate the need for digestive activity before absorption.'"
Jodi Bassett, from The Hummingbirds' Foundation for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
This is a great book but seems more suitable for doctors than patients, as it has a quite formal writing style and is far more heavy going to read. While the creation of this book is admirable, there is little in this book that is not covered just as well or better in `Vitamin C: The real story' and it is this book I would recommend of the two, although the books are very similar in content and quality.
This is still a very solid book however, of a very high quality. The sections on scientific method and the bias and illogicality of our medical system are just wonderful.
The importance of vitamin C cannot be overemphasised.
Vitamin C in an appropriate dose:
1. is a powerful antioxidant (and also helps recycle other antioxidants),
2. is anti-carcinogenic (reduces the risk of developing various cancers),
3. supports the immune system by improving the host response to disease (making the body more able to fight off any secondary infections) and improving the function of white blood cells,
4. can stop recurrent boils (furunculosis) (people with this condition may have defects in white blood cell function that are correctable with vitamin C supplementation),
5. has antiviral and antibacterial effects (it controls and maintains phagocytosis),
6. supports the adrenal glands (and supporting the adrenals also supports the thyroid),
7. supports the cardiac/cardiovascular system and assists in the maintenance of peripheral circulation (including improving the blood flow to the brain) and maintaining capillaries,
8. is a natural chelator and helps to remove heavy metals and other toxins from the body ( this improved detoxification may markedly improve your tolerance of pollution and toxic chemicals),
9. safeguards the body from the effects of high blood sugar (glycation) and helps to normalise blood sugar and improve hypoglycaemia. Vitamin C is important in the digestion of food, the biochemistry of the body's utilization of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and it has a pronounced activating effect on insulin,
10. reduces the severity of colds, flu's, and Candida infections,
11. has an antihistamine effect and can reduce or prevent symptoms of hayfever and food allergy,
12. can prevent asthma attacks (and possibly some SIDS deaths),
13. helps to reduce the toxic load of metabolised fat which occurs during weight loss, and helps support the liver during weight loss,
14. acts as an electron donor for eight different enzymes,
15. aids in the formation of liver bile,
16. may have an antidepressant effect and help the body handle emotional stress better,
17. counteracts some of the damaging effects of aspirin and heighten its pain killing effect, and also acts as an pain reliever in its own right (at bowel tolerance doses),
18. increases the therapeutic effect of different drugs and medicines by making them more effective (less of a drug is required if it is taken in combination with large amounts of ascorbic acid),
19. can help improve joint mobility (if serum levels of C are high, synovial fluid is thinner allowing for easier joint movement) and reduce inflammation and fever,
20. helps with connective tissue repair (especially collagen) and maintaining healthy teeth and bones (high dose vitamin C can help reduce tooth loss and cavities),
21. helps promote wound healing,
22. promotes eye health in many different ways (prevents cataracts, glaucoma etc.),
23. helps to produce the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine,
24. can cause sensations of overwhelming physical wellbeing,
25. is essential to the proper functioning of the central nervous system.
Vitamin C is involved in almost every bodily process and helps our bodies maintain homeostasis. Irwin Stone explains in his book on vitamin C that,
"Throughout the evolution of the vertebrates, including the mammals, Nature has used ascorbic acid to maintain physiological homeostasis. In simple nontechnical terms, this means that when stressful situations arose which disturbed the biochemical equilibrium of the animal, ascorbic acid was produced in increased quantities to get things running normal again. The amount of ascorbic acid produced is related to the severity of the stresses and if enough was produced soon enough, then the animal was able to survive the bad biochemical effects of the stresses. If, however, the enzyme system for producing ascorbic acid was overwhelmed or poisoned by the stresses and too little ascorbic acid was produced, then the animal succumbed. Man, unable to produce his own ascorbic acid, could not take advantage of this natural protective process. Instead stresses only further depleted his low stores of this vital metabolite. Now he can easily duplicate this time-tested defensive mechanism by reaching for the bottle of ascorbic acid and swallowing additional quantities whenever he is subjected to biochemical stresses. In duplicating this normal process for combating stresses, man has one great advantage over the other mammals -- he can get an unlimited supply of ascorbic acid without being dependent upon an enzyme system which may not produce enough, quickly enough. All man needs to know is how much to take.
One of the outstanding attributes of ascorbic acid is its lack of toxicity even when given in large doses over long periods of time. This has been recognized since the 1930s, and ascorbic acid can be rated as one of the least toxic substances known of comparable physiological activity. It can be administered in huge doses, intravenously, without registering any serious side effects."
The best form of vitamin C appears to be the new liposomal vitamin C which has a similar effect to vitamin C given by IV. For more information see Dr Levy's vitamin C book 'Curing the Incurable.'
Dr Levy writes:
"I found that liposome encapsulated vitamin C, taken orally, was roughly 10 times more effective clinically in resolving infectious diseases than the IVC. Having given thousands of IVCs and taken hundreds myself, this was difficult to comprehend, even though the clinical observation was quite straightforward. I subsequently realized that the liposome gave the ultimate bioavailability: intracellular delivery, including the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and even the nucleus. 2 to 6 packets daily covers most individuals for most situations."
As The Vitamin C Foundation explain,
"Almost 100% absorption is the key. Liposomal vitamin C is released from the liposomes in the liver almost perfectly imitating the animal release of vitamin C. The liposomal form of vitamin C may become important oral cancer adjunct by helping to maintain high blood levels of ascorbate - vitamin C, especially in people who have trouble tolerating ordinary pills due to gas and diarrhoea.
Our tests with liposomal vitamin C have been amazing. No gas or diarrhoea at double the dosages that usually create these effects in our subjects. The Foundation recommends utilizing Lypo-C after you reach bowel tolerance with ordinary ascorbic acid.
'Liposome-encapsulated Ascorbate Liposomes were first proposed as a unique drug delivery system approximately 35 years ago (Bangham, 1995; Gregoriadis, 1995). One of the primary reasons for utilizing a liposome-encapsulation delivery system is to assure a near complete absorption of the encapsulated nutrient or drug into the bloodstream. The physical qualities of the liposome also eliminate the need for digestive activity before absorption.'"
Jodi Bassett, from The Hummingbirds' Foundation for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
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