If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a thousand times: Vitamin C is an essential staple for warding off sickness and maximizing health. Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of tissues, specifically bone, teeth and tendons. It aids in wound healing, and is a key antioxidant utilized for preventing damage to our organs and glands by toxins. Vitamin C can also be used therapeutically to improve conditions such as asthma, bleeding gums, bruising and nosebleeds, which makes its integration into our diets even more beneficial.
When it comes to raising our vitamin C levels, it is important to recognize the difference between sources. Most vitamin C supplements sold in health food stores and markets are lab-made ascorbic acid, which is an isolated synthetic form of vitamin C, not the full complex of vitamin C found in whole foods, such as oranges and peppers. The vitamin C found in whole foods contains not only ascorbic acid, but also compounds called bioflavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanins, catechins, and tyrosinase. It is the presence of these compounds that makes vitamin C such a powerful player in the body, because the compounds act as synergists to the ascorbic acid itself. As a result, in order to truly benefit from the health-promoting qualities of vitamin C, it is necessary to supplement with whole-food complexes, not isolated synthetic ones.
We recommend that you ditch your Emergen-C, Airborne and chewable C tablets, and turn to higher-quality, whole-food sources instead. Why bother with the fake stuff when you have access to the real thing? The following is a list of our favorite vitamin C sources that will ensure that you maximize your health regime, both effectively and cost-efficiently.
High: Camu Camu Powder by Terrasoul
With 250 mg per teaspoon, camu camu is a fruit that contains more vitamin C than any other known botanical source. Camu also contains high levels of bioflavonoids, minerals and B vitamins, making it well worth the price. Simply add this slightly sweet powder (we think this one by Immunologic tastes the best) into smoothies and juices, or even baked goods, to get your immune boost.
Midpoint: Pure Radiance C by The Synergy Company
A vibrant, living blend of wildcrafted camu camu, and organic amla, acerola, blueberries, raspberries, lemons, cranberries, cherries, rose hips, and sprouts, this is the real deal — 100% natural sources of vitamin C. This powder has no added excipients, binders or fillers, making it easy to digest and absorb. Plus, it tastes great too!
Low: Goji Berries by Dragon Herbs
While all goji berries contain high levels of vitamin C, not all of them taste the same. If you have not tried these goji berries by Dragon Herbs, then you must put them on your list. They are by far the most moist and juicy among gojis, making it so easy to reach your daily vitamin C allotment. We love adding them to smoothies, raw cereals, guacamole or even steeping them to make a tea tonic.
