Are you tired of popping vitamin C pills like it’s nobody's business? Do you know how many is too little, and how many will make your pee neon yellow without any benefits? Fear no more folks because I've got the solution for you. After consulting with a bunch of experts that apparently exist (or do they?), we've come up with everything one needs to know about daily vitamin C consumption.
What even is Vitamin C?
Vitamin what now? If this question just crossed your mind, please throw all those pills away right now, we don't need another disaster on our hands. So here's a quick science lesson:
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid, has long been praised for its immune system-boosting properties - but that isn't all folks! It also helps our dear old body absorb iron better (iron the metal guys), speeds up healing processes and calms inflammation caused by various diseases such as arthritis among other things.
Why Not Just Rely On Citrus Fruits For Our Daily Dose Of Vitamin
Oh honey, wouldn't life be easier if it was that simple?! Sadly my ignorant friend were not living in an ideal world where each house comes equipped with at least three citrus trees in their backyard; so let's forget about getting enough vitamin from food sources only— unless off course you live next door to an orange farm owner who owes'ya one.
Moving on...
Is taking excessive amounts good for us?
"Something tells me there may be side effects..."
Yes,wining pessimist out there are some cons associated with excessive intake(>2000mg) , ranging from nausea & diarrhea to rare cases of kidney stones .That much should probably be self-explanatory Listen,you know how they say excess of everything is bad? With vitamin C, it's also true.
However, the amount recommended dose (see table below) comes with virtually no risk and may help you live a dazzling life- just in case that was your goal all along .
How Much Is Enough?
Well here’s where we get to the real question: how many pills can we pop without feeling like James Franco in his film ‘127 Hours’? (exaggerations are key - listen up folks) The recommended dosage for adult males is 90 milligrams a day while for women it's around 75mg/day, which if you look at your local pharmacy shelves isn't something most consumers care about but should. However depending on underlying disease conditions or habits such as smoking or even too much coffee intake ,the demands might be higher(around 1 gram per day).
But what if You're Pregnant Or Breastfeeding
For future moms out there(high five); no pressure,but this means relying on that bottle of orange-flavored goodness more than ever(wink-wink). There are a few things to keep tabs on though:
- Pregnant ladies need an additional daily dose of at least 10 mg ,
- While breastfeeding mothers would require approximately(double check)120mg per day alongside healthy diets.
Uh Oh... Am I Experiencing Vitamin C Deficiency?
"Now hold up! Why do I feel attacked?"
Calm down Agatha; so maybe lately you’ve been catching colds like it’s nobody's business or perhaps bruises aren’t properly healing; whatever symptom has got'ya thinking , its important to watch outfor deficiency symptoms Some common signs associated with severe deficiency include scurvy (yes scurvy still exists )and dry skin . So upping dosages within limits sooner rather than later could go some way towards countering such problems.
But wait, even with minor or no-deficiency some individuals still opt to carry Vitamin C supplements on-the-go alongside a bubbly orange juice!. The following could be reasons they do so:
- Vegans tend to experience low iron levels more often than their meat-eating counterparts.
- Injuries due to accidents or sports activities can damage blood vessels, leading to bleeding, hence the need for quick healing .
Side Effects Of Too Much Consumption
"It seems like there's risk everywhere!"
Ahem! Let's take it easy Karen ,excessive intake of this beneficial vitamin does have potential Downsides. The larger-than-needed doses sometimes don't get flushed out readily(above 2000 milligrams). This may lead to further harm in such cases though uncommon. You might experience nausea,vomiting among other symptoms’which usually go away once you lay off them fizzing powders and effervescents.
Can They Interact With Other Medicine?
Of course everything we consume has side effects which may interact with prescription medicines. Among popular vitamins /drugs that may interact are
- Anticoagulants (useful when combating blood clots)
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Birth control pills
BUT, not all drugs pose risks of interaction .Therefore consulting health professionals before indulging in any dietary supplement is KEY!
Final thoughts-Putting A Cap On It All
While most folks might ask'How many hours should I sleep ?',some optmize by asking ' How Many Vitamin C Pills Per Day is Just Right?'. Though it varies as regular dosage depends on sex, underlying medical conditions and certain lifestyle choices e.g smoking,equations given above give us an average estimate.Nevertheless,Vitamin Cs benefits for fighting infections and speedier wound recoveries are worth incorporating into our daily regimens without overdoingit(The occasional high-dose will only raise suspicion amongst your daily surroundings anyway).
So there y'go folks , its math after all.