Vitamin C is necessary for our body's most vital functions. With a wide variety of vitamin C available in the market, it can be a pretty challenging task to pick the most suitable ones for your needs.
You will need to consider a few things before choosing your vitamin C supplements, such as benefits, dosages, types, and other characteristics.
That is why we have managed to compile this buyer's guide in order to save you time and help you figure out what vitamin C product is the ideal choice. Read on!
What Are Benefits Of Vitamin C?
Prevention of aging: vitamin C reduces the degeneration of your skin and other tissues, therefore slowing down the aging process.
Boosts your immune system: it stimulates the immune system by building strength.
Lowers your blood pressure: taking vitamin C supplements at a dose of about 300 milligrams a day helps reduce your blood pressure significantly.
Maintain healthy hair: if you want to have stronger hair, vitamin C actually plays a major role by helping you absorb more iron.
Weight control: Whether you want to drop a few pounds of fat or improve strength, vitamin C can help.
What Should you Consider Before Purchasing Vitamin C Supplements?
Supplement Form
Vitamin C supplements usually come in three basic forms: powder, chewable, and pills or capsules.
Powders are usually the most affordable form, but you have to mix them with water, which can be inconvenient and messy. Chewables are easy to consume but may have a strange taste or texture in the mouth. Pills are perhaps the easiest method of consumption, but if you have trouble swallowing larger pills, then capsules may not be the best option.
One form is not necessarily superior. Each one has benefits, and it ultimately comes down to personal preference or cost.
Dosage
Vitamin C supplements can range widely in dosage, from 25 mg to 1,500 mg per unit. However, doctors suggest you take it in smaller doses throughout the day and not exceeding over 2,000 mg per day. Your body has a limit for vitamins, and once you reach the capacity, the body will flush out any excess, making it inefficient to consume more than the proper limit.
Delayed, timed, or sustained-release capsules
You need to take vitamin C every day for two reasons: vitamin C is water-soluble, so it cannot be stored by the body. The body will flush out any excess, so you can’t "stock up" on enough vitamin C to last for a week.
The delayed or timed capsules don't release all of their vitamin C at once, making it easier for your body to regulate. Instead, these capsules have layers of coating that slowly dissolve throughout the day, releasing small, controlled amounts of vitamin C. This helps your body not become overloaded by too much vitamin C at once.
How Much Do Vitamin C Supplements Cost?
Vitamin C supplements will usually cost you from roughly $5 to over $40. Price is determined by capsules or doses per container and the concentration of vitamin C. A bottle with 500 1,000 mg capsules will cost much more than a bottle of 20 500 mg capsules.
It can be challenging to compare products side-by-side because of their different forms, amounts, and concentrations. You cannot directly compare powder to capsules, just as you cannot directly compare apples to bananas.
Generally, prices range from $0.02–$1.5 per serving, or $12–$40 per container, though this may vary between brands.
How Do We Choose these Vitamin C Supplements?
If you choose the right option for your lifestyle and diet, vitamin C supplements can significantly benefit your health. To help you determine which option best suits you, we have gone through hundreds of products and picked the seven best. Some of the factors we included were customer ratings, brands, and value.
We sifted through many customer ratings and reviews, mainly looking at products with hundreds or thousands of well-rated reviews. We compared value for money and quality as well as benefits of each supplement, as some offer more than others. We firmly believe that the products we have listed are the best you can choose in today’s market.
What are the Different Types of Vitamin C Supplements?
Like any other vitamin supplement, vitamin C exists in various forms. Here are the most popular and common types of vitamin C:
Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbic acid is the purest form of vitamin C. When vitamin C is in the bloodstream, it is in this form, meaning ascorbic acid is the most easily absorbed by the body.
Sodium Ascorbate
In this form, ascorbic acid attaches to a sodium unit, which helps neutralize its natural acidity, making it a smart choice for those bothered by heartburn due to acid. However, keep in mind that this will slightly increase your sodium levels, so be careful if you have health conditions that require you to watch your sodium intake.
Calcium Ascorbate
This is a blend of ascorbic acid and calcium. Your body can easily break down and digest the calcium and ascorbic acid without raising the acidity, making it perfect for those who have sensitive stomachs, illnesses, or any other concerns related to vitamin C consumption.
Conclusion
Vitamin C supplements are the perfect way to get your day’s worth of vitamins and boost your immune system. They are ideal for daily use throughout the year, or just during seasons when illnesses like colds and the flu are more common.
Now that you’ve read about what to look for in a good vitamin C supplement, take a look at our recommended products.
Vitamin C Supplement FAQ
Q: Which vitamin C is the best for me?
A: The best vitamin supplement will mostly depend on personal preference. Take into account your dietary needs, as some may want or need more vitamin C than others. Think about which form and concentration are best for you, or consult a health professional if you want more direction.
Q: Is it good to take vitamin C pills every day?
A: Yes, but you shouldn't take too much. Vitamin C is essential, but you can have too much. Start with smaller doses once per day and increase them if needed. If you take a bigger dosage in a single day, then it might cause mild side effects like diarrhea, nausea, or heartburn.
Q: What's the suggested dosage of vitamin C?
A: You shouldn't exceed the total limit, which is 2,000 mg per day. Even though your body will get rid of excess, taking too much could come with uncomfortable side effects.
Q: Should I take vitamin C when I'm sick?
A: Many people take vitamin C supplements whenever they feel a cold coming on, but they are not necessarily proven to do much. They may be able to decrease the amount of time you feel sick, but they cannot prevent a cold entirely.