Vitamin C powder is a dietary supplement that is mixed and taken with water. Choosing the best vitamin C powder requires first assessing the needs of the individual. There are a plethora of brands and characteristics to choose from when shopping for powdered vitamin C. Prospective buyers should consider the origin of the vitamin C, quality of the product, reason for use, stomach sensitivity, cost, and additional ingredients.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is known to improve the immune system. It is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that excess passes through the body and is not stored. This makes receiving vitamin C from supplements or the diet important. A deficiency in vitamin C can result in a weakened immune system and scurvy, in extreme cases. Individuals with who have greater than the average amount of vitamin C in their blood have been shown to live longer lives and have a decreased risk of heart disease.
Vitamin C powder is available in different two different forms. The first and most pure is 100% vitamin C. This powder is ultra thin and is completely pure, with no additives. Vitamin C in powder form is easily absorbed by water and then quickly taken in by the body. For these reasons this form of vitamin C is considered the most beneficial.
The vitamin C used to make the powder can come from plants that are natural sources of the vitamin. The most often used plants are corn and beets. When looking for a vitamin C powder, it is important to note that it is also called ascorbic acid or hydrogen ascorbate.
The majority of vitamin C found in powders is derived from corn because it is the least expensive source. Corn, especially genetically modified corn, creates toxic secretions when used to extract the ascorbic acid. For this reason, vitamin C powders that come from genetically modified corn are some of the least desirable.
Unfortunately pure vitamin C powder cannot be tolerated by those with weak stomachs. There is another alternative for those individuals in the form of buffered powdered vitamin C. Buffered powder will have added ingredients, such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium to make it gentler on the stomach. Manufacturers also claim that these ingredients will make the powder taste better when taken with water.
Quality vitamin C powders will not have artificial colors or flavors, preservatives, sugar, or sodium. If any of these ingredients are listed, the product's quality should be questioned. It is also important to purchase these supplements from reputable sources.