What Is Vitamin C Powder?

One of the most commonly used vitamin supplements is vitamin C. Many people prefer to take vitamin C powder, or crystals, rather than tablets and capsules. Although scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency disease, is not common, people take vitamin C powder for many other health benefits that are associated with it.

Features

• According to "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," because the body cannot make vitamin C, a person must get this important nutrient from the diet or in supplements. Many people choose to supplement, because diets can often be lacking in this vitamin. Signs of vitamin C deficiency include slow wound healing, fatigue, frequent infections and bleeding gums.

Types

• A common form of vitamin C powder is ascorbic acid, which is a fine white powder that has a tart taste and readily mixes into water or juice. According to The Vitamin C Foundation, Dr. Robert Cathcart, the leading expert on vitamin C in the world, said when referring to ascorbic acid that "twice as much of any other form of the vitamin is required to achieve therapeutic results when taken by mouth." Another type is buffered vitamin C powder, which has added minerals to make the powder gentler on the digestive system. Also, some vitamin C powders are labeled as being food based.

Significance

• Although vitamin C is available in tablets and capsules, many people prefer to take this nutrient in powdered form. The powder can be better absorbed, especially for people who cannot tolerate the fillers and additives that are often present in tablets and capsules, and powder gets into the system much more quickly than tablets or capsules. Children, especially very young ones, can take powder when they are not yet able to take capsules or tablets. Vitamin C powder is often less expensive than tablets or capsules. Although capsules and tablets often contain fillers and additives, vitamin C powder usually does not.

Health Benefits

• Vitamin C is an important antioxidant. According to "Healthy Healing," it boosts the immune system, protects against free radicals, helps to protect against infections, aids the adrenal glands, is helpful in alleviating heart disease and reduces allergy symptoms. It also helps the body deal with pollution, heavy metal toxicity and aging. It helps to ensure that gums are healthy and helps wounds and burns to heal. It is an important component in detoxification programs, and the body needs more vitamin C during stressful times.

Considerations

• Vitamin C powder can be stirred into juice or water, then swallowed. According to "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," it is best to divide up dosage of vitamin C throughout the day, perhaps twice per day, rather than taking it just once per day. This provides the best effects. Dosages that a person needs depend on many factors, including overall health and age. Although it is most common for people to take vitamin C powder orally, people sometimes use it in other ways, such as in nasal rinses. Prices for vitamin C powder tend to be reasonable, and sources include health stores and online retailers.