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Did you know that ascorbic acid is actually synthetic vitamin C? What’s more, it is usually GMO vitamin C, which means it was derived from GMO corn.
If you are learning this for the first time, it can be a rather shocking realization as almost all vitamin C supplements on the market use isolated ascorbic acid separated from a whole food source. The manufacturing process that produces synthetically derived vitamin C leaves all the beneficial co-factors behind!
Even more disturbing, ascorbic acid is frequently marketed as natural vitamin C and added to organic foods as a natural preservative. Truly natural forms of vitamin C and synthetic ascorbic acid seem to be used interchangeably.
How confusing for the consumer!
Nearly all juices and fruit products are loaded up with ascorbic acid, even many organic, healthfood store versions. It seems that if a product is labeled “high in Vitamin C”, consumers buy more of it.
A lot of folks are being fooled by these misleading semantics. There is a growing body of evidence that those consuming high doses of ascorbic acid should have reason to worry.
Three Studies Suggest Caution with High Dose Ascorbic Acid
The journal Wise Traditions cites three studies that give pause about large doses of vitamin C. The first, from the Jun 15, 2001 issue of Science, showed that “synthetic vitamin C may contribute to the formation of genotoxins that can lead to cancer”.
A second study presented to the American Heart Association showed a link between consumption of only 500 mg of vitamin C per day and a greater propensity toward thickening of the arteries (Los Angeles Times, March 3, 2000).
More recently, athletes taking 1000 mg of isolated ascorbic acid per day showed reduced endurance capacity from interference with antioxidant enzymes (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Jan 2008).
This information should give pause to anyone who is actively taking synthetic vitamin C supplements such as those Emergen-C packets that are available everywhere, from pharmacies and health food stores to even gas stations!
Supplements like these are NOT boosting immunity and are NOT good for you!
Synthetic vitamins such as ascorbic acid act more like drugs in the body rather than whole food nutrients with all the available co-factors. Taking any synthetic vitamin can cause imbalances in the body and should be avoided.
Another worrisome and popular trend is the recommendation of some alternative health professionals to do a “vitamin C flush” during illness. This therapy (if you can call it that) calls for large doses of ascorbic acid until the onset of diarrhea.
This approach to regaining wellness has never made any sense to me. Now, with more studies indicating the danger of high doses of vitamin C, caution seems well-founded.
Fan of Linus Pauling? Consider This…
If you are a fan of Linus Pauling who popularized the notion of huge doses of Vitamin C for the common cold in the 1970s, consider this. GMO Vitamin C did not exist when Pauling was conducting his studies. GMO derived Vitamin C is what most people are unwittingly taking today!
What’s more, the studies indicating the danger of high doses of vitamin C over long periods of time had not been done yet. They were conducted long after Pauling died in 1994.
What about High Dose, Intravenous Ascorbic Acid?
What about high dose, intravenous ascorbic acid for the very ill? Note that vitamin C for IV use is almost always derived from GMO corn as well as being extremely high dose and synthetic ascorbic acid only.
Under certain circumstances and for the very ill, high dose GMO ascorbic acid therapy can be beneficial. For example, my husband used IV ascorbic acid therapy immediately after each amalgam removal. This prevented any released mercury from getting stored in the tissues. Not doing this risks the development of autoimmune disease.
However, synthetic vitamin C especially when genetically modified shouldn’t be a regular feature in anyone’s diet or supplement regimen.
Whole Food Vitamin C is Naturally Low Dose
The best way to get vitamin C on a daily basis is from whole foods sources. This will provide you this critical nutrient at a low dosage that will do no harm over the long term.
When you get the whole foods version of vitamin C, you don’t need much at all. A truly natural vitamin C supplement with no isolated ascorbic acid is naturally low-dose and yet highly effective.
Don’t forget about the benefits of fresh grassfed milk – a great source of vitamin C. The vitamin C in milk is mostly destroyed by pasteurization, along with many other nutrients. This is why buying fresh and local is so important.
Fresh and lacto-fermented fruits and vegetables (such as traditional sauerkraut) are other excellent sources of the whole vitamin C complex.
Perhaps folks feel the need to take large doses of synthetic vitamin C because all the processed foods they are eating are so devoid of the nutrient in its whole form. Switching to whole foods and dumping those vitamin C supplements in the trash would be a much better approach to boosting immunity!
Ascorbic Acid is Usually from Genetically Modified Corn
What’s worse is that ascorbic acid is not just synthetic. Remember that it is also usually derived from genetically modified corn! More on that GMO vitamin C travesty fooling millions of consumers every single day in the linked article.
Another vitamin scam harming consumers concerns synthetic folate commercially known as folic acid.
The pushing of beta carotene as true vitamin A by food manufacturers and supplement companies is another nutritional falsehood scamming millions of consumers and worse, seriously harming their health.
What to Look for in a True Vitamin C Product
To give you some idea of what to look for in a vitamin C supplement, here are the ingredients of the one I use. Notice that there is no isolated ascorbic acid or other ascorbates and no additives. Just pure food Vitamin C sources. Please note that this is not the only Vitamin C supplement that qualifies as totally pure. There are a few others.
Pure Radiance C ingredients: camu camu berry extract, manioc root, acerola berry extract, amla berry extract, buckwheat sprouts, freeze-dried berry blend, blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, cherry, rose hips fruit, lemon peel, black pepper berry extract.
I also use the Amla C Plus. Here are the ingredients: Organic Amla berry, organic spirulina.
Notice that the words “ascorbic acid” are not listed in either of these products!
Want to know where to find a complete line of whole food Vitamin C supplements from a variety of whole food plant sources?
Click here for several carefully vetted brands to choose from.
What is the children’s chewable Vit C you recommend in this article?
Isn’t the amla in the Radiance brand another name for Goji berries? And aren’t Goji berries from the Nightshade family? I’ve read that Nightshade vegetables and fruits are not good for people!
Nightshades are fine and healthy to eat. Some people react to them, yes, and may need to temporarily remove them from the diet while the gut heals.
What is the chewable vitamin C you use?
The extracts you endorse are most likely extracted by synthetic compounds such as ethyl alcohol.
I’m not endorsing any extracts. I am endorsing whole food vitamin C!
I have just developed an allergic reaction to ascorbic acid or synthetic vitamin c but am unaffected by natural vitamin c or citrus! My throat become extremely red and itchy, if I have taken a high does it also causes a rash redness to my belly button area and both sides/ribs… it can last a week! I’m not afraid of what I can and can’t ingest given it’s not being labeled accurately… any advice on foods to avoid? Thanks
I have been giving my son Sufficient C product, which uses L-Ascorbic Acid (I just emailed the owner inquiring the source). I have been using this product for quite some time on my now 5 year old, as this product was endorsed heavily by my son’s integrative GI doctor. I also have been using the product because of its high vit. C content, as this was recommended by the homeopathic doctor in preparation for his vaccinations (I was recommended to give my son 4000-6000 mg of vitamin C. However, this last batch has really made my son ill. He cannot finish a 4000 mg serving, which he had no problem doing in the past. He says his belly hurts and then begs me to throw up. Me, being stupid, I assumed he was acting and made him continue the regimen. Could it be that his body is saying enough is enough? Or could it be that he is sick? Your article makes sense about not overdosing on vitamin C. I used to use Pure Radiance C but then was told that wasn’t enough. I was told to consume more because it would help with my son’s constipation (per the homeopathic doctor). Please educate me on the proper vitamin C dosage for a 5 year old? Also, can this be applied to a constipated child? A child prepping for a vaccine? I am so overwhelmed that I am destroying my son’s body due to misguidance. Am i poisoning my child??
If it were my child, I certainly wouldn’t be giving him that much vitamin C in a single dose! Especially if it is making him sick and his stomach hurts. Small doses of whole food vitamin C is much better!
I have been taking Vitamin C plus Bioflavonoids for several years. It is Vit C from Ascorbic Acid. It is from a reputable source. Someone mentioned to me recently that it contains GMO Corn. I am concerned as I have osteoperosis. It is dificult to decide what to take after reading your article. Maybe I should take the childrens chewable supplement.
Which children’s one do you use? My twins are 2.5years. Should I buy Synergy C & use that ( if so how much ……it tastes very sour!) , it or give them the acerola tablets you mentioned for children?
Hi Sara, I was very pleased to find you after my search about absorbic acid or citric acids. Its been very hard to find infor. on this thats not all good it seems to me you can no longer search the internet to get both sides of any issue. it seems to be controled.
My reasons for this stim mainly from I need to avoid it because its nterferance with my medication.
when I consume anything that contains absorbic or citric acid it almost wipes out the effectiveness of the medication! So I read every lable and I have found its in just about everything! I must wait up to four hours after eating before I can take my medicine.
Do you know for about how long it stays in the
the digestive tract? especialy when its in meats cheese as compared to fruit juice. My medication is very expensive and I cant afford to just up the dose. also baking soda will neutralize the acid but then I dont think I will absorb the medicine very well either. I would be very greatful for any of your wisdom on this subject.
Linus Pauling stated categorically that synthetic vitamin C was the same molecule as “natural” vitamin C. Zero benefit to whole food vitamin C.
How can synthetic vitamin C be called ‘GMO’? The vitamin C MOLECULE is isolated, and is the identical molecule as “natural”… everything else from the source, even if GMO corn is used… is removed.
Are you claiming that due to a GMO source, the vitamin C molecule is somehow altered?
There are many co-factors in whole vitamin C that are beneficial and allow you to get the same benefits with a much lower dosage. Using a GMO sourced vitamin C is a huge risk for pesticide residues. GMO corn is a highly sprayed crop (it is Roundup Ready and doused with this stuff … farmers are now in the courts suing for cancer from exposure).