How much Vitamin C should I take?

There are many different views about how much Vitamin C you should take. While we can't answer the question for you, we can give you some more information so you can make an informed decision.

Vitamin C is not naturally produced by the human body. Almost every other mammal produces its own Vitamin C. That means that unless you consume it, you're body won't have any Vitamin C to work with.

The RDA in the UK of Vitamin C right now is 60mg. Is this enough?

Well to give you an idea of how much Vitamin C other mammals produce, a typical goat will produce an average of 13,000mg of Vitamin C in one day. This does not mean a human needs this amount! However, many doctors have suggested that the 60mg RDA is just about enough to ward of scurvy, but will do little more than that. Even a rat produces more Vitamin C in a day than 60mg.

Vitamin C is said to 'promote healthy cell development, wound healing, and resistance to infections. It serves as an antioxidant and may help protect against certain cancers, cataracts, and heart disease.' If this is correct, then perhaps healthy dosages should be recommended!

An interesting study done on the matter suggests that Vitamin C should be taken in ratio to the amount of Vitamin B produced by a given mammal, and humans should therefore take 2,300mg of Vitamin C per day. You can read the study here.

A further search on google into how much Vitamin C you should take will produce countless studies and opinions from doctors on the subject. One thing is for sure- almost all medical doctors are recommending far more Vitamin C than that 60mg RDA.

So, how much Vitamin C should you take? Well, it's up to you. We conclude that between one and three sachets per day of Emergen-C could be a healthy amount to keep your body in good condition.