Humans Don’t Make Their Own Vitamin C – Like Other Animals Do – Uh Oh !
The Genetic Foundation for Glucose intolerance
Millions of years ago, a genetic mutation occurred in an early primate, preventing it from making it’s own vitamin C. Probably because it had access to an abundant source of dietary vitamin C, this might explain how that, somehow, this creature survived! It reproduced and it’s descendants evolved, causing all of them, including us, to inherit this defect.
All animals, except for human beings, make their own vitamin C. Lucky them! For us, vitamin C became a dietary nutrient essential for survival.
High Levels of Glucose Interfere with Vitamin C Absorption
Glucose and vitamin C possess nearly identical chemical structures. Glucose is C6H12O6 versus vitamin C, which is C6H6O8.. Almost all animals convert glucose to vitamin C in their liver or kidneys, thus providing for them a ready supply of vitamin C and diminishing the amount of glucose in the blood. This probably explains why monkeys can eat fruit all day and not get diabetes. Although they do chatter away all day. Apparently they still get a sugar rush! This is probably the source of the expression “monkey mind”!
There is evidence that when the bloodstream is flooded with glucose, that it interferes with the body’s ability to use vitamin C. When excess glucose is not converted to vitamin C, the excess interferes with the vitamin C. This is because glucose and vitamin C use the same receptors on the cell walls. Then, the glucose crowds out the vitamin C and we lose the protection provided by this essential nutrient. And then, too much glucose, which might otherwise be converted to vitamin C, overstimulates insulin production and generates large numbers of free radicals, contributing to the formation of most all degenerative diseases.
This provides the foundation for how excess amounts of glucose, from refined and processes carbohydrates and sugars, contribute to glucose intolerance and diabetes. Not surprisingly, diabetics are frequently deficient in vitamin C, even when they get modest amounts through their diets.
Most animals produce large amounts of vitamin C, producing amounts which would be the equivalent of 2000-13,000 milligrams daily in an adult human.
Vitamin C Helps the Immune System – Bombs Away
During an infection, immune cells have to work extra hard, and their vitamin C reserves are quickly depleted. Here is how white blood cells destroy bacteria. After engulfing bacteria, white blood cells literally detonate free radicals to destroy the bacteria. Biologists call this the “free–radical burst.” This is another example of the lethal nature of free-radicals. And, unfortunately, free-radicals often leak out, sort of like peripheral blast damage and injure nearby cells.
Inadequate antioxidant reserves limit the body’s ability to clean up these excess free radicals and having low levels of vitamin C makes this worse. However, supplemental vitamin C can help the body clean up these unwanted free radicals.
Vitamin C to the Rescue ! – Recommended Amounts
It is recommended that people take 1000 to 2000 milligrams of vitamin C daily to protect themselves from glucose intolerance.
If you need to reverse levels of glucose intolerance or if you are experiencing colds or other infections, take 2000 to 4000 mg of vitamin C. A form of vitamin C, called Ester C, is a non-acidic form of vitamin C and easier on the body. Ester C can be found in most health food stores.
An easy way to notice if you are taking too much vitamin C, is if it causes diarrhea. In that case just cut back a bit.