Am I a moron for buying Emergen-C fizzy vitamin C powders?

[Jackmannii]

As another poster noted, taking excess vitamin C is probably just going to result in having urine loaded with vitamin C. It’s of dubious value in preventing colds or limiting their duration. From a recent Cochrane review on the subject:

“The failure of vitamin C supplementation to reduce the incidence of colds in the general population indicates that routine prophylaxis is not justified. Vitamin C could be useful for people exposed to brief periods of severe physical exercise. While the prophylaxis trials have consistently shown that vitamin C reduces the duration and alleviates the symptoms of colds, this was not replicated in the few therapeutic trials that have been carried out. Further therapeutic RCTs are warranted.”

There appears to be low risk of any problems associated with long-term consumption of 1g of vitamin C a day (less than compelling association with side effects like kidney stones, low copper absorption etc.). If the OP enjoys the drink and it’s cheap, sounds pretty harmless to me.*

*of course, I’m a person who starts loading on Echinacea capsules shortly before and for a week or so after I take a plane trip anywhere, on the doubtful theory that I’ll get enough of an immune boost to ward off contagion from the germ-ridden people on the flight. Hey, if I don’t get sick that proves it works, right? :dubious:

[Freudian_Slit]

@Jackmannii

As another poster noted, taking excess vitamin C is probably just going to result in having urine loaded with vitamin C. It’s of dubious value in preventing colds or limiting their duration. From a recent Cochrane review on the subject:

“The failure of vitamin C supplementation to reduce the incidence of colds in the general population indicates that routine prophylaxis is not justified. Vitamin C could be useful for people exposed to brief periods of severe physical exercise. While the prophylaxis trials have consistently shown that vitamin C reduces the duration and alleviates the symptoms of colds, this was not replicated in the few therapeutic trials that have been carried out. Further therapeutic RCTs are warranted.”

When they say severe physical exercise…what do they mean? Because isn’t exercise supposed to help the immune system, too?

[SciFiSam]

@Snow_Pea

Just took a good look at the box…the recommended dosage isn’t 1 1000 mg pack per day, it’s 3. So that’s 3000 mg of vit C per day. If Little Bird is correct, I’m only using 100 of that, and wasting the other 2900 mg down the toilet. Is this really correct?

At a cost of 75 cents per day, that dosage is about 275 USD per year. Holy &*%# ! Do people really spend that much on this stuff?

I’m taking/spending 1/3 rd this amount, but it’s still $91 per year.

:dubious:

Starting to thing that yes, I am a dumbass. But I love my tangerine fizzy vit C drink! It makes me feel like I’m doing something healthy…:smack:

It’s only a waste of money if all you’d drink otherwise is water or the cheapest teas. Otherwise it’s a healthy drink that you like which doesn’t actually cost very much compared to most other drinks.

[Freudian_Slit]

@Freudian_Slit

When they say severe physical exercise…what do they mean? Because isn’t exercise supposed to help the immune system, too?

I found this in response to my own question:

Intense Exercise May Actually Make You Sick

More recent studies have shown that there are physiological changes in the immune system as a response to exercise. During moderate exercise immune cells circulate through the body more quickly and are better able to kill bacteria and viruses. After exercise ends, the immune system generally returns to normal within a few hours, but consistent, regular exercise seems to make these changes a bit more long-lasting.

However, there is also evidence that too much intense exercise can reduce immunity. This research is showing that more than 90 minutes of high-intensity endurance exercise can make athletes susceptible to illness for up to 72 hours after the exercise session. This is important information for those who compete in longer events such as marathons or triathlons.

So…exercise but not TOO much.

[Snickers]

@Snow_Pea

Could I make my own?

How does the fizzy thing work? There are dozens of ingredients, I’m not a chemist, can’t figure out which one(s) do the “magic” fizzy effect…

Can I buy bulk powdered vit c? Maybe just add sugarfree tangerine kool-aid powder or something?

I don’t know about flavoring - there you have a ton of choices - but when I want a fizzy drink that’s not pop, I reach for club soda, then doctor it with whatever. The club soda provides the fizzy (at zero calories, too!), and the flavoring provides the taste. I’ve used grenadine and one of those Crystal Light light drink mixes (I think it was fruit punch; might have been Raspberry Ice) to very good effect.

I don’t know what would add the Vitamin C, though. Maybe a crushed Flintstones tablet, or similar?

[AndyLee]

I have heard smoking cigarettes will cause you to need more vitamin c than normal. But I don’t know how much more.

BTW I’ve taken some of those pills the OP was talking about and they are pretty cool. I don’t think they help but I doubt they’d hurt you really

[Quercus]

@Snow_Pea

So does that mean I can justify an emergen-C martini if I feel the sniffles coming on?

Yes. Also if perhaps you feel a touch of scurvy, an emergen-C martini is a salubrious reaction.

Though if you use tonic water (and lime! Remember, fighting scurvy is everyone’s business!) instead of emergen-C, then you’re also warding off malaria. Just so you know.