Our bodies require numerous nutrients to maintain optimal health. There’s vitamin D, sleep, potassium, and of course vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient your body needs to function properly while promoting better overall health. Supplementing with this nutrient is quite common, making it one of the most consumed vitamin products. So, what are the best vitamin C supplements?
You can easily find this nutrient available online and in stores, which is why conducting research before buying a generic vitamin product is wise.
What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant. Being essential means your body cannot produce this nutrient independently, and the vitamin must be obtained through whole foods or supplementation.
Orange juice is the easiest source for this nutrient. However, not everyone enjoys drinking this, and diabetics cannot consume juice due to its high sugar content.
This vitamin is generally safe to consume even at higher doses since it’s water-soluble—any excess during digestion is eliminated through urine. Daily dosing with vitamin C may yield several benefits if your diet has been lacking this nutrient.
Vitamin C Supplement Benefits
Vitamin C is a micronutrient important for all body types. Whether you’re an athlete or a senior needing extra nutrients, vitamin C remains crucial.
Primary roles of Vitamin C include:
- Repair, growth, and development of all body tissues
- Boosts immune system and reduces virus replication
- Reduces chances of heart disease, eye disease, and prenatal health
- Lowers blood levels of uric acid, which can reduce symptoms deriving from gout
- Keeps skin healthy and can reduce inflammation, redness, and dryness
- Assists with the absorption of iron and commonly found together
You can see that vitamin C does a lot for your body, and scientists are realizing that more vitamin C should be consumed than what the CDC recommends for daily needs.
Those with active lifestyles benefit significantly from vitamin C for muscle recovery following workouts. While protein is the most commonly considered nutrient, vitamin C deficiency actually hinders muscle repair.
The suggested daily dosage of vitamin C ranges from 500mg-1,000mg. Since it’s water-soluble, you don’t need to worry about exceeding this amount slightly, as long as it’s done in moderation. Extremely high doses without medical consultation can be dangerous.
Different Forms Of Vitamin C
Vitamin C comes in various forms to accommodate different digestive needs and improve absorption. This supplement can be found as liquid capsules, tablets, and pure liquid. The actual forms of vitamin C are:
- Ascorbic Acid – The natural form of vitamin C that is inexpensive and readily available. May cause stomach upset in some individuals, so alternative forms exist. Time-released capsules slowly release vitamin C and may reduce stomach irritation.
- Buffered Vitamin C – This form comes from mineral ascorbates, which are less acidic mineral salts you may recognize as electrolytes. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and magnesium ascorbates provide vitamin C while reducing gastrointestinal issues. This form costs more to purchase.
- Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids – Vitamin C-rich foods contain polyphenolic compounds known as bioflavonoids. This mixture essentially enhances vitamin C absorption at a cost-effective price. Rosehips are commonly added as one of these bioflavonoids.
- Ester-C – Vitamin C metabolites and mineral ascorbates (commonly calcium) mixed together. Increases the bioavailability of the nutrient for better absorption. Most products like this are expensive compared to regular buffered vitamin C.
Best Vitamin C Supplements
Finding the best vitamin C supplement depends on quality and price. You may also need to consider digestive issues if they occur with a specific form. Price plays a significant role with vitamin C supplements since they’re meant for daily, long-term use.
Staunch Vitamin C
This is one of the top-quality supplements available for purchase. Consumer ratings are exceptionally high for Staunch Vitamin C, and it’s easily found on Amazon.
Each serving contains 1,000mg of vitamin C with 25mg of rosehip added. The vitamin C is in ascorbic acid form, which digests better with the added bioflavonoid.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON STAUNCH VITAMIN CLypo-Spheric Vitamin C
Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C is a supplement from LivOn Laboratories that uses patented technology and advanced formulation to deliver the vitamin C your body needs.
This supplement includes 1,000mg of vitamin C per serving, plus 60mg choline, 160mg sodium, and 1000mg essential phospolipids.
USE CODE “GET10P” TO GET 10% OFF LYPO-SPHERIC VITAMIN CSolgar Vitamin C With Rose Hips
Solgar Vitamin C costs nearly twice as much as Staunch, but there are solid reasons for this. The vitamin C is also mixed with rosehip for enhanced availability. However, the difference lies in the product’s comprehensive approach. Solgar Vitamin C is kosher, dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, and designed for those following a vegan lifestyle.
This bottle contains 1,000mg of vitamin C with 62.5mg rosehip. Found in tablet form, you take one daily, and there are 250 tablets per bottle. While there’s a price difference, it’s justified by containing over twice the servings.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON SOLGAR VITAMIN C WITH ROSE HIPSNatureMade Vitamin C
NatureMade is readily available in most convenience and drug stores. The price varies based on serving count, but you can find a 300-tablet bottle for just over $20.
The vitamin C amount is 1,000mg, making it comparable to previous supplements. If this dosage isn’t needed, other products exist with only 500mg per serving. You take one tablet daily, making this bottle nearly a year’s worth of servings—perfect for household use.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON NATUREMADE VITAMIN CAmerican Health Ester-C
American Health offers an excellent vitamin C product featuring vegetarian-based tablets. You take 2 tablets daily from a 225-count bottle. While the tablets don’t divide evenly, you get 112 servings of quality ester-C, which was noted to cost more due to its effectiveness.
There’s 500mg of ester-C, 110mg ester-C calcium ascorbate, and 400mg citrus bioflavonoids. Definitely a high-quality vitamin supplement with over 1,000 reviews earning it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON AMERICAN HEALTH ESTER-CFinal Thoughts: Best Vitamin C Supplements
Choosing your vitamin C supplement should be viewed as a long-term investment. Save money by trying ascorbic acid supplements first. This will help you understand how your stomach reacts before investing extra money. However, if you want to play it safe, the American Health Ester-C is a smart choice.
