You’ve likely heard for most of your life that getting your daily dose of vitamin C is essential, but have you ever wondered why? Vitamin C is an antioxidant found in Nature, highly concentrated in certain fruits and vegetables. Store shelves are filled with a variety of pills, powders, and tablets that claim to boost your vitamin C intake, but many of these products primarily contain ascorbic acid, a product that isolates vitamin C from the complex structure it is part of in Nature.

Our Truly Natural™ Vitamin C is made with whole camu-camu and amla berries, and whole-food extracts of acerola cherries, three of the highest concentrated sources of vitamin C that exist in Nature. Using whole foods makes for a highly bio-available product, allowing your body to make the most of the many benefits of this powerful antioxidant.

How will Truly Natural™ Vitamin C benefit me?

Vitamin C supports:

1. Immune and white blood cell (leukocyte) function*
2. Collagen production and skin care*
3. Neurotransmitter and mood/brain function*
4. L-carnitine synthesis and cellular energy*
5. Adrenal and pituitary gland function*
6. Nervous system function*
7. Eye function–the eyes have nerve cells that require vitamin C to function properly*
8. Cardiovascular function–vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant*
9. Protein metabolism*
10. the Regeneration of other antioxidants within the body (e.g. vitamin E)*
11. the Protection of the structural integrity of cells and tissues*
12. the Absorption of iron from plant-based foods (non-heme iron)*

Vitamin C is the quintessential vitamin for general immune support.* It is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in vegetables: bell peppers, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts; and fruits: kiwifruit, strawberries, citrus, guavas, and tomatoes (botanically, a fruit); to name a few. Some of the highest known sources of vitamin C are exotic fruits: acerola cherry–cultivated in Brazil, camu-camu berry–native to Peru, and amla berry–native to India, all of which are regularly available in powder form in the USA. 

Current scientific thinking asserts that, unlike most other mammals, our bodies are not capable of producing vitamin C, thus making it an essential nutrient that we must consume daily in order to replenish our reserves. Vitamin C is the main antioxidant found in the central nervous system and is highly concentrated in the brain, eyes, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, and white blood cells of the immune system.

Vitamin C deficiency is a nutritional deficiency that can cause scurvy–a disease that affects collagen synthesis and the connective tissue. Current scientific estimates affirm a 5.9% prevalence of scurvy in the U.S.A., according to the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Nationally, it has been observed that vitamin C levels have decreased in the American population, as compared with the data from the previous 2005–2006 NHANES survey. However, it is important to note that the prevalence of scurvy since the 2005–2006 NHANES survey has not changed enough to be considered statistically significant. 

Poor dietary habits emphasizing a low consumption of sufficient vegetables and fruits account for the majority of the decline in vitamin C nutritional levels. After all, 90% of vitamin C in the diet is from vegetables and fruits, foods that are considered part of an ancestral, alkaline diet. Other risk factors or high-risk groups that are vulnerable to insufficient vitamin C intake include, but are not limited to: smokers, obesity, alcoholism, chronic illness, living in a food desert where access to fresh vegetables and fruits is limited and/or non-existent, psychiatric illness, eating disorders, the elderly living alone, low socioeconomic status, food insecurity, and dialysis patients. Additionally, absorption of vitamin C can be negatively affected by certain pharmaceutical drugs, for example, long-term use of corticosteroids or proton pump inhibitors, which can cause a decline in vitamin C levels. 

The Daily Value (% DV) for vitamin C, as set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is 90 milligrams per day for adults and children age 4 years and older. The U.S. National Academy of Medicine (NAM) (formerly, Institute of Medicine) recommends that smokers consume an additional 35 milligrams per day than nonsmokers. Further to this, NAM recommends that pregnant and lactating women, 19+ years, consume 85 milligrams and 120 milligrams, respectively, of vitamin C per day.

Truly Natural™ Vitamin C is a simple and convenient way to supplement the diet with whole food sources of vitamin C. One serving of Truly Natural™ Vitamin C powder offers 360 mg of natural vitamin C, 400% Daily Value, making it an exceptional source. Wow! While off-the-shelf, cookie cutter, synthetically manufactured ascorbic acid supplements are the status quo on the store shelves and in gas stations, Truly Natural™ Vitamin C was created for those whole-fooder customers looking for nothing but the real thing. Truly Natural™ Vitamin C is truly remarkable in that it is made with naturally-occurring vitamin C from acerola cherry extract (from sustainably-grown acerola cherries), organic camu-camu berry, and organic amla berry.

Vitamin C requires helper nutrients (cofactors) to be fully productive. The camu-camu and the amla are present in their whole food form (not an extract), which means that the skin is included, skins that contain antioxidants and phytonutrients, all of which are vital for maximum absorption and productivity.

Natural Sources of Vitamin C:

• Acerola Extract: In 1946, researchers identified acerola cherries as being one of the highest sources of naturally-occurring vitamin C. Acerola cherries are believed (it is not precisely determined) to have originated from the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico, and the islands of the Caribbean and Antilles. Traditional use includes for supporting upper respiratory function, among others.* The acerola extract we use is from acerolas sustainably grown on farms in Brazil, with Brazil being the largest producer of acerola cherries of any other country. As compared to synthetic vitamin C that does not grow on trees, acerola cherries are a tropical fruit that grows on evergreen tropical tree-like shrubs. It is important to keep in mind that these trees and orchards cost time, money, water, natural fertilizer inputs, and labor to manage and grow, making whole food vitamin C more costly than lab made synthetic vitamin C, which, by the way, commonly uses genetically modified sources as the starting material for synthesis. The acerolas are picked at the peak of their vitamin C content and are processed into an extract using water only, concentrating the vitamin C content. Naturally-occurring vitamin C is your first line of defense to support the immune system.*

• Camu-camu: The organic camu-camu we use is from Peru as it is native to the Amazon rainforest. This berry is revered for its vitamin C antioxidant power. Camu-camu contains antioxidants called anthocyanins which are responsible for its red color. Camu-camu is not your typical sweet berry; it is a functional berry that tastes sour, tart, and bitter/astringent. For the trade-off of a little bitterness on the tongue, you get the benefits of the anthocyanins and other phytonutrients, which support the immune system and the body’s inflammatory response.*

• Amla: Amla berry is a wonder berry, and it is an adaptogenic herb. Adaptogens support the immune, nervous, and endocrine system and also support the body and mind’s resiliency to occasional stress.* The organic amla we use is from India as it is native to that region. Amla is one of the most important functional plants in the Ayurvedic traditional system of medicine. Polyphenols and vitamin C are the stars of the show for this berry. As is the case for camu-camu, amla also has those sour, pungent, bitter and astringent flavor notes. For the price of a little bitterness/astringency on your palate, you the get the added benefits of amla’s liver and digestive function support.*

Being the highest quality vitamin C of its kind, we use best in class premium packaging offering Truly Natural™ Vitamin C in dark amber, recyclable glass bottles which includes a robust oxygen absorber and airtight metal lid. No leaching plastics and the dark glass minimizes UV light. 

Truly Natural™ Vitamin C is legit; it is the best vitamin C product out there! Vitamin C the way Nature intended.

How should I use the product?

Truly Natural™ Vitamin C tastes good and is a great addition to your daily health program. A serving of the powder can be added to room temperature or chilled water, smoothies, shakes, coconut water, freshly squeezed orange juice, or added to Vitamineral Green®, our flagship greens powder product. Other product use ideas are to add to warm water for a soothing tea, avoiding boiling water as vitamin C is a temperature-sensitive vitamin that can be easily degraded by high heat. Some people prefer to add a serving of Truly Natural™ Vitamin C to cold granola. To each their own!

Lifestyle / Suggested Adjuncts:

These lifestyle factors can further support your immune system: hydrating with adequate fluids and electrolytes, eating well with a diet high in vegetables and fruits, staying physically active and exercising regularly (if you do not move it you lose it), maintaining a healthy weight and body mass index, getting enough restorative sleep, taking breaks for fresh air, prioritizing time for relaxation, and investing and maintaining in quality social connections–uphold the family unit.* Turning off the Wi-Fi during sleep, or better yet, switching to wired internet also supports the immune system.* Additional HealthForce immune supportive products include Truly Natural™ Vitamin D, Friendly Force™ Probiotic, Antioxidant Extreme™, MycoForce™, and Vitamineral Green® and its grounding companion Earth Broth®.*

Grab some now!