How Much Vitamin C Should I Take?

by Carly Neubert, BA, NC September 14, 2016

There are loads of benefits to having sufficient Vitamin C levels in your body. Whether you're getting your Vitamin C through your food, tablet, powder, or any other form, it can be tricky to understand just how much Vitamin C your body will utilize. Have you ever wondered how much Vitamin C your body wants?

Another popular question many of you ask is "Is too much Vitamin C a bad thing?" If you're looking for that answer, check out this blog post: An Orange a Day Probably WON'T keep the Doctor Away.

How Much Vitamin C Should I Be Taking?

Vitamin C mobilizes your immune system cells to look for and destroy foreign attackers. When your body's immune system is needed to fight off something like a flu, cold, or recovering from an injury, it needs Vitamin C to function quickly and effectively.

The following list highlights the appropriate amount of Vitamin C you should take when suffering with ailments such as the flu, cold, food allergies, and more. The information for this list was generated by a study done by Dr. Robert F. Cathcart, "How to Determine a Therapeutic Dose of Vitamin C." 

Recommended Vitamin C Dosage

Flu: Take at least 100g to 150g or more of Vitamin C in a 24-hour period divided into 8-20 doses.

Recovery (From Injury or Surgery): Take at least 25g or up to 150g of Vitamin C in a 24-hour period, divided into 8-20 doses.

Sever Cold: Take at least 60g or up to 100g of Vitamin C in a 24-hour period, divided into 8-15 doses.

Mild Cold: Take at least 30g or up to 60g of Vitamin C in a 24-hour period, divided into 6-10 doses.

Seasonal Allergies (Hay Fever, Asthma): Take at least 15g or up to 50g of Vitamin C in a 24-hour period, divided into 4-8 doses.

Food Allergies: Take at least .05g or up to 50g of Vitamin C in a 24-hour period, divided into 4-8 doses.

Anxiety and Stress: Take at least 15g or up to 25g of Vitamin C in a 24-hour period, divided into 4-6 doses.

Healthy Maintenance: Take at least 4g or up to 15g of Vitamin C in a 24-hour period, divided into 4-6 doses.

I hope this post can act as a benchmark for anyone interested in optimizing the amount of Vitamin C for any circumstance. 

If you're interested in learning more about Vitamin C supplements or gaining a healthier lifestyle, or if you just can't find the information you are looking for, set up an appointment with me and I'll help you find the answers you are looking for!

For additional recipes, biohacking tips and lifestyle hacks -- check out my other blog on my coaching site www.cleancoachcarly.com! I post weekly about nutrition and lifestyle topics, all backed by science. Happy Reading!

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