How to take Vitamin C when you’re sick/have the flu…

Vitamin C has so many health benefits, but for today let’s focus on using it when you get sick. Everyone’s need for vitamin C is different, and everyone’s needs change based on his or her state of health. For example, when you are perfectly healthy you may need only 1 gram of vitamin C, but when you are sick, you may need up to 10 times this amount. How do you know how much to take? While there isn’t a definitive way to test for this, there is a great way to estimate it based on bowel tolerance.

Here’s what you do:
Begin by taking 500mg of vitamin C
Each subsequent day, you can increase your dose by 500mg
Continue increasing your dose until it starts to give you loose stools
Once you reach this point, decrease your dose by 500mg
If loose stools subside, this is the dose you can continue
If loose stools continue, decrease your dose until they stop
Notes:
If you are like me and can’t stand being sick, I increase my dose more frequently. Sometimes I’ll increase my dose every few hours. This is okay if you are actually sick and if you have a good understanding of how you respond to Vitamin C. I don’t recommend doing this the first time you try it.
Again, keep in mind that your need for Vitamin C is much higher when you are sick. So, as you start to recover, your need for the higher dose will decrease and it will start to give you loose stools. Simply decrease your dose as quickly as you need to.

There are quite a few foods that are high in Vitamin C. Try incorporating some of these delicious fruits and veggies into your diet when you are sick:

1. Red and Green hot chili peppers – 242.5mg per 100g serving
2. Guavas – 228mg per 100g serving
3. Bell peppers – 184mg per 100g serving
4. Thyme – 160mg per 100g serving
5. Raw kale – 120mg per 100 g serving
6. Broccoli – 89mg per 100g serving
7. Kiwi fruits – 93mg per 100g serving
8. Papayas – 62mg per 100g serving
9. Oranges – 59mg per 100g serving
10. Strawberries – 59mg per 100g serving