I recommend splitting your vitamin C dosage up because it’s water-soluble. So, if you take it just once, say, at 8 a.m. in the morning, by noon it will all be out of your system and just sitting in your bladder. The best vitamin C supplement I’ve seen on the market so far, is “Reacta -C”. Some folk advocate mega doses of vitamin C. These doses can reach 20 grams, (by the way, that’s 20,000mg) or higher. Proponents of vitamin C often argue that mega doses are harmless, but that’s not true. Some extra vitamin C is indeed beneficial, but mega doses (10,000mg and higher) can cause nutritional imbalances, deprive tissues of oxygen and may produce a condition called “metastatic oxalosis,” where deposits of oxalate build in the kidneys (kidney stones) and heart (this produces abnormal rhythms). Mega doses of vitamin C can also cause diarrhea, because of its laxative effect. So, to sum things up, do I recommend taking extra vitamin C, and is it safe? Yes, it’ll make you healthier, but remember, you can always get too much of a good thing.

Diet or exercise question? Email me at dwcrocker77@gmail.com or visit fitness4yourlife.org. David Crocker of Landrum has been a nutritionist and personal trainer for 26 years. He served as strength director of the Spartanburg Y.M.C.A., head strength coach for the S.C. state champion girls gymnastic team, USC-Spartanburg baseball team, Converse college equestrian team, lead trainer to L.H. Fields modeling agency, and taught four semesters at USC-Union. David was also a regular guest of the Pam Stone radio show.