Can Good Old Vitamin C Offer a Novel Approach to the Flu?
Dr Carlos  Optimal Health Expert

     I write this on the heels of the alleged Swine Flu epidemic which as of May 1, 2009 sickened approximately 365 people worldwide. While the number of deaths is well below the number that is claimed by the more common annual influenza virus, the risk of death from any flu virus is still worth noting.  An upside to the scare is that people are washing their hands more often which will help reduce most diseases from spreading. But aside from closing schools and businesses, and avoiding enclosed spaces, are there more proactive options available to us?

     Tamiflu and Relenza are the two primary antiviral drugs used to treat influenza virus. Aside from these, doctors are at a loss as to what else to offer a patient other than staying home from work or school, getting some rest, and staying hydrated. That's where we look to the world of healthy nutrition for more answers.

     Vitamin C is perhaps the longest studied antioxidant. For more info on this important class of nutrients I refer you to http://toolstolife.com/articles/A-Fresh-Approach-to-Your-Diet-41. Tons of antioxidants have hit the market over the past few decades, each promising to be the next cure-all for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, wrinkles, Alzheimers, and more. But none has a longer track record of safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness than good old Vitamin C.

     British sailors in the 1700's used to bring limes along on their long journeys in order to prevent Scurvy, a bone-weakening disease caused by Vitamin C deficiency. But it wasn't until the 1930's where scientists identified this crucial nutrient and recognized its many health benefits.

• Vitamin C is a powerful anti-viral. It's the first thing I consider any time I'm fighting a cold or flu.
• Because of its ability to support healthy adrenal gland function, Vitamin C improves our ability to handle stress, and reduces the effects of stress on our body.
• Vitamin C is necessary for collagen formation which affects the health of our skin, hair, teeth, nails, and bones.
• Vitamin C also improves muscle recovery, helps with growth and development, and speeds tissue repair after surgery, injury, or a hard workout.
• Vitamin C repairs and protects the inner lining of our arteries which reduces our risk of heart attack and stroke.

     The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for Vitamin C is only about 60-80 milligrams (mg), about that of a medium-sized orange. Unfortunately RDA's are only the bare minimum needed to prevent deficiency. I for one set much higher goals for myself and my patients. Our daily diet should provide no less than 500-1000mg in order to be fully protected from free-radical oxidation. If you smoke, take birth control, are a hard exerciser, are recovering from surgery, or are simply growing very fast, your needs are even higher.

Don't want to eat that many lemons? Me neither. Fortunately Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables, including green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, cantaloupe, papayas, mangos, blueberries, pineapples, rose hips, watermelon, and acai berries. The incredible Indian amla fruit probably has the highest Vitamin C concentration of any other food on the planet.

     Should you want to take much higher doses of Vitamin C, as I might in the rare event I come down with something, do so in divided doses throughout the day (eg 1000-2000mg, three times daily). Vitamin C is water soluble and does not store in the body the way fat soluble vitamins do. This means we need to take it throughout the day or else it's gone in a few hours. To make it easier on your stomach look for a ‘buffered' form of Vitamin C.  Ester-C is one such product but it can be more costly (and not necessarily any better) than simple ‘buffered C'.

We live in a very complex world. Sometimes our greatest tool is to look to the past for the challenges we face in the present.

Healthiest regards,

Dr. Carlos