You ever wonder why we have a “sweet tooth” ? Our body yearns for sweet foods, but it is not supposed to be chocolate, soda, or sugar. It yearns for naturally sweet foods that are rich in Vitamin C. Foods such as oranges, berries, and other fruit.

The human animal is among few animals that cannot produce vitamin C on it’s own, (other animals include bats and guinea pigs). We must source it from external sources. It should make sense. Historically speaking, sailors who crossed the Atlantic years ago suffered from scurvy (due to diminished Vitamin C) BUT, the rats never did.

Besides preventing scurvy, Vitamin C is an important and essential nutrient for humans as it acts as an antioxidant against oxidative stress. In other words, it promotes the vitality of our immune system. In a world filled with stress, it is an important nutrient to have.

So, how much do we need a day? There are many sources for how much to take a day, but we recommend at least 500mg with every meal, or at least 2000mg a day. We can obtain this amount in a couple ways:

1.) eating foods that are rich in Vitamin C:

- Vitamin C is a perishable Vitamin, meaning the longer it is sitting on a shelf, or picked from a tree, the less Vitamin C is in it. For a complete listing of the amount of Vitamin C in food click HERE

2.) using supplements:

- While we encourage sourcing Vitamin C from natural sources, it is often difficult in our busy lives.  Generally, you will get what you pay for, i.e. the more expensive supplement will often be the best. It is important to understand where the supplements came from and how they were made. Click HERE to learn more.