Whenever cold and flu season hits, what do we end up doing? We dust off that bottle of vitamin C in the back of the medicine cabinet. But really, just how effective is that vitamin C? First of all, it’s important to know how vital vitamin C is to our diet. Humans can’t make nor store vitamin C in their bodies, so we have to get it from an outside source. It’s important for a wide range of bodily functions relating to the immune system, growth & development, bone health and many others. Without vitamin C we could not make collagen, which explains why there are so many skin products featuring this vitamin. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it dissolves in water and the leftovers are dispelled by the body. The most common form, the kind you’ve probably picked up at any local drug store, is a hard tablet, capsule, pill or powder of L-ascorbic acid. The challenge with the typical forms of vitamin C is that it must travel through the digestive system, reducing the amount of viable vitamin C that is actually available for uptake. What ends up happening is that most of your valuable nutrients end up down the drain, more specifically, the toilet since unabsorbed vitamin C is excreted in the urine. When you have increased need for this nutrient, doctors prefer to utilize vitamin C in IV form, especially when they find the amount of oral vitamin C is limited by bowel tolerance. Why? You can completely skip the destruction that occurs in the digestive system and deliver the vitamin C straight to your circulatory system, and then to your body’s cells. Liposomal vitamin C operates on the same principle. The idea is to prevent the degradation that normally occurs when a tablet or pill is processed through the entire digestive system. How does liposomal vitamin C work in the body? All of our cell membranes in our bodies are primarily made of phospholipids. Liposomal vitamin C utilizes liposomal encapsulation technology to put vitamin C into small vesicles of phospholipids. Liposomal vitamin C is, therefore, absorbed into cells and organs of our bodies without the use of energy, as vesicles that are very normal in the body. The result is that you get far higher delivery of vitamin C with liposomal encapsulation than you do by just taking vitamin C by itself.

THE BENEFITS OF LIPOSOMAL VITAMIN C: Bypasses the digestive process for increased bioavailability Utilizes lipids that are easily absorbed into the body’s cells Prevents stomach upset that is common with pills, powders and tablets Delivers nutrients directly to cells Protects against free radicals Provides immune system support

Using liposomes for the delivery of nutrients and medicine is nothing new. In fact, one study combined a cancer drug and vitamin c in liposomal form and achieved greater absorption of the medicine within the body’s tissues when compared to the exact same solution in non-liposomal form. The liposomal cancer drug produced a 40% inhibition in tumor growth while the free solution showed no anticancer effect whatsoever. Food Bonus! To get vitamin C in your foods, consider these tasty vegetables, all of which contain high amounts:

• Broccoli (more than oranges!)
• Brussels sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Green and red peppers
• Spinach and other dark, leafy greens
• Winter squash

Whether you want to boost your energy or immune system, effectively absorbed vitamin C is essential for your body’s optimal function. Next time you get the sniffles, consider taking a little Liposomal vitamin C. Liposomal vitamin C is a concentrated and easily absorbed form of vitamin C that will no doubt have a positive impact on your overall health by effecting true change within your body.

How to get more Vitamin C in a vegan diet

Most commonly known for its immunity-boosting properties, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant whose benefits reach far beyond immune support. Vitamin C plays a critical role in managing our bodies’ response to aging, energy production, and detoxification. 

While Vitamin C naturally occurs in many fruits and vegetables, Vitamin C deficiency is more common than you may think. Read on to understand the signs of Vitamin C deficiency and how to prevent it with a balanced diet.

What is Vitamin C? 

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant responsible for supporting many of our bodies’ ongoing functions. This water-soluble vitamin is one of the few nutrients that our bodies cannot store or produce, meaning all of our bodies’ Vitamin C content comes from the foods we eat and the supplements we take. Vitamin C is naturally occurring in many fruits and vegetables, with citrus fruits being one of the most common sources of Vitamin C. This potent antioxidant plays a key role in several of our bodies’ physiological processes.

Immune System Support 

While Vitamin C may not prevent you from catching the common cold, it can help to support a speedy recovery as well as decrease the length and intensity of cold symptoms. 

Among Vitamin C’s many functions in the body lie its healing properties. This includes healing outward wounds as well as recovering from sicknesses. Additionally, Vitamin C helps to support the immune system by stimulating white blood cell activity, and in turn, detecting and fighting off infections.

With cold and flu season right around the corner, make sure you’re getting an optimal amount of daily Vitamin C to support a healthy immune system and help you recover from seasonal bugs!

Chronic Disease Prevention

Studies have shown that higher levels of Vitamin C have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease, as well as certain cancers, and reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes. 

By slowing down the process of atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries, Vitamin C helps to protect the arteries against damage, keeps the arteries flexible, and allows your heart to function and pump blood throughout your body. Vitamin C also works to prevent damage by LDL cholesterol, which builds up as plaque in the arteries and can cause similar heart-related complications.

At the same time, a diet rich in Vitamin C has been linked to reduced risks of developing certain cancers, including skin, cervical, and breast cancer. As a powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C acts as a detoxifying agent in the body, reducing oxidative stress and breaking down environmental toxins called free radicals which have long been associated with cellular damage and an increased risk of developing certain diseases and cancers.

Healthy Aging

We all know that a balanced diet, rich in raw fruits and vegetables, helps to support our overall body health. But a diet packed with Vitamin C-rich foods helps to support the aging process across joint health and mobility, vision and eye health, and skin health. 

Joint Health and Mobility

Vitamin C has been shown to be one of the most promising antioxidants in supporting joint and mobility health. By stimulating the production of collagen and proteoglycan, Vitamin C prevents the breakdown of cartilage. With improved collagen and Vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory properties, regular intake of Vitamin C can help to alleviate many of the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, making for more comfortable, flexible, and free movement throughout the day.

Vision and Eye Health

Scientific studies have shown that Vitamin C plays an important part in slowing the progression of and protecting against cataracts and macular degeneration — aiding in the preservation of healthy eyes and vision. With a daily intake of at least 500mg of Vitamin C, Vitamin C has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and maintain low levels of oxygen in the eye, reducing the risks of developing cataracts and macular degeneration.

Skin Health

As a popular ingredient in skin care products, Vitamin C has been shown to slow the signs of aging by improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and protecting the skin against long-term damage caused by harmful sun rays. As an anti-inflammatory ingredient, Vitamin C can help reduce redness of the skin, and is even used as a holistic acne treatment.

Are you getting enough Vitamin C in your diet?

The recommended daily intake of Vitamin C is 90mg for men and 75mg for women over the age of 19 years old. While Vitamin C is abundant in several fruits and vegetables, over 33 million Americans are deficient in Vitamin C. 

The widespread deficiency can largely be attributed to the Standard American Diet (SAD), which prioritizes highly processed, ultra-refined foods for the sake of convenience, rather than nutrition. Vitamin C is destroyed by heat and oxygen exposure and is highest in freshly picked produce and citrus fruits, which are commonly lacking in the SAD. .

Signs of Vitamin C deficiency

Some of the most common symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency include slow wound healing, gingivitis, joint pain, and easy bruising. Those who often fall sick may also be deficient, as Vitamin C deficiency can result in impaired immunity and higher susceptibility to infections.

How to prevent Vitamin C deficiency

Combatting Vitamin C deficiency is easier than you may think. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes contain up to 96 mg of Vitamin C in one fruit — that’s more than your daily recommended intake with just one serving! While citruses are often the first to come to mind when we think of Vitamin C powerhouses, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are abundant in this potent antioxidant. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and brussels sprouts are jam-packed with Vitamin C, containing 91mg and 85 mg of Vitamin C in each serving, respectively. A medium red bell pepper contains 152 mg of vitamin C, making it a great snack food and addition to many dishes.

In addition to the naturally occurring sources of Vitamin C, supplements can help support a balanced diet, especially when nutritious fruits and vegetables are out of season or unavailable. There’s a wide variety of Vitamin C supplements on the market, including tablets, powders, chewables, and gummies, but the most effective type of Vitamin C supplement is Liposomal Vitamin C. Liposomal Vitamin C delivers your daily dosage of Vitamin C in tiny nanosized lipid packets that bypass digestion so that delivery to the cells and organs of the body may rival or even surpass results of intravenous delivery. By supplementing Vitamin C daily, you can ensure you reap all of its health-boosting benefits and don’t have to worry about risking deficiency.

The importance of Vitamin C for vegans

From immune system support to chronic disease prevention and healthy aging, Vitamin C plays a vital role in supporting your body’s overall health. By maintaining a balanced, plant-based diet inclusive of Vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, and cruciferous vegetables, and supporting your health with supplements, you can enjoy many of the incredible health benefits Vitamin C has to offer!

You know that vitamin C is critical for optimal wellness, boosting the immune system and supporting cardiovascular health. But have you ever considered the ways you can deliver this miraculous nutrient to your body to maximize its absorption? Eating vitamin C-rich foods is beneficial, but there are better options. Intravenous delivery is another way, but there's an even more advantageous route to maximizing intake. That's where liposomal technology comes into play.

During our webinar, "How Liposomal Technology Can Optimize Nutrition," Kelly Goyen, the co-founder, CEO and driving force in strategy at Empirical Labs, will discuss his experience with liposomal oral nutrition and how beneficial it is for the body. In 2009, Goyen helped Empirical Labs release its first liposomal vitamin C, designed to overcome the absorption limitations of typical supplements. Since then, he has continued to expand the award-winning liposomal line with quality products using only superior ingredients and methods of development.

During the broadcast, you'll learn how superior liposomal vitamin C can be and why it's the only option worth considering!