Advertorial
Vitamin C can help trigger fat burn, but 40 percent of people over 25 aren’t getting enough of it to do so. The fix: A new form of the vitamin called liposomal C doubles absorption to simultaneously burn fat and build muscle — without exercise!
When you sit down to lunch today, what will you have? If you’re anything like us, it’s probably not the same thing you ate in your 20s — or the same amount. Many women over 40 have traded sandwiches for soup over the years just to avoid a pileup of excess pounds. And yet we still gain. What gives?
When we’re younger, we have plenty of lean muscle—and having a higher percentage of lean muscle can skyrocket your metabolism because muscle burns more calories than fat.
But women lose about 1 percent of their muscle tissue each year— a loss that accelerates after age 40. So by age 60, most women have lost 20 percent of total muscle mass. The result: a sluggish metabolism and increased fat storage.
vitamin C can reverse this age-related metabolism slowdown. A 2020 study published in The Journal of Nutrition showed that women and men who consumed the most C had the highest levels of lean muscle mass; those who got less of the vitamin had the lowest. ″Vitamin C is used for making carnitine,″ explains study co-author Ailsa Welch, Ph.D., a professor of nutritional epidemiology at Norwich Medical School. ″It is a crucial substance that provides energy for muscles and collagen, a structural component of muscle.″
Because vitamin C is water-soluble, it can’t penetrate fatty tissue naturally. It also has a poor rate of absorption. Indeed, studies suggest that only 15 percent of vitamin C from a traditional capsule is absorbed. So if you’re taking the Recommended Dietary Allowance of 75 mg., you may only be absorbing 11 mg. — that’s 94 percent less vitamin C than the subjects with the most metabolism-revving muscle in the U.K. study got.
A breakthrough form of vitamin C called liposomal C dramatically improves absorbability. Liposomes are like little fat bubbles that surround vitamin C as it travels through the body, allowing it to pass by the gut without being broken down so it can get where it’s needed most — in cells. ″Liposomes are made up of phospholipids, the same substances that make up cell membranes, so the vitamin is absorbed in cells much faster,″ explains Pauline Jose, M.D., a clinical instructor at UCLA. The payoff: The absorption rate of liquid liposomal vitamin C is 135 percent that of traditional vitamin C.
Increase vitamin C absorption, and metabolism soars. The proof: In a University of Colorado at Boulder study, adults over 60 who were given daily vitamin C burned 100 more calories per day without making any other changes, while in an Arizona State University study, having optimal levels of vitamin C was shown to boost levels of the fat-burning compound carnitine by 30 percent. ″We knew that people with high concentrations of vitamin C in their blood have less body fat and weigh less. This explains why,″ asserts Carol Johnston, Ph.D., who worked on the study. ″Women who take enough C are oxidizing more fat, so over time you should see their body fat decrease significantly.″ The results speak for themselves, says 51-year-old Traci Downey, who lost 109 lbs. supplementing with C daily. ″I was shocked. I thought my scale was wrong,″ she recalls. ″I feel like I’ve found me again!″
Weight loss is just the beginning. Most importantly in these days of increased risk for flu, pneumonia and COVID-19, vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system. It supports the body’s defenses against viruses and bacteria. It also promotes vascular health, which protects the integrity of the gut, where 80 percent of the immune system is housed. Adds Dr. Jose, ″Vitamin C helps lower high blood pressure and cholesterol, regulate moods and prevent chronic illnesses. It’s also important for strong bones, wound healing and healthy gums.″
Liposomal Vitamin C Capsules such as the ones by Wholesome Wellness provide better vitamin C Absorption without the side effects such as stomach cramps and diarrhea. Just make sure the supplement has phosphatidylcholine or lecithin listed in the ingredients otherwise it isn’t a true liposomal product.
May lower your risk of heart disease by 25% – Vitamin C supplements have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. These supplements may lower heart disease risk factors, including high blood levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Strengthen Immunity – Vitamin C may boost immunity by helping white blood cells function more effectively, strengthening your skin’s defense system, and helping wounds heal faster.
Reduce chronic disease risk – Studies show that consuming more vitamin C can increase your blood antioxidant levels by up to 30%. This helps the body’s natural defenses fight inflammation
May help manage high blood pressure – Vitamin C supplements have been found to lower blood pressure in both healthy adults and those with high blood pressure.
Helps prevent iron deficiency – Vitamin C can improve the absorption of iron that is poorly absorbed, such as iron from meat-free sources. It may also reduce the risk of iron deficiency.
Protects your memory and thinking as you age – Low vitamin C levels have been linked to an increased risk of memory and thinking disorders like dementia, while a high intake of vitamin C from foods and supplements has been shown to have a protective effect.
Getting enough vitamin C preserves and promotes metabolism-boosting lean muscle — and the liposomal form of the vitamin is more than twice as effective as standard supplements. The payoff: More of the vitamin makes it to muscle cells, where it helps promote steady metabolism and increased fat burning.
While the Recommended Dietary Allowance of vitamin C is 75 mg. for women, stress, illness, diabetes and exposure to toxins can cause deficiencies and further reduce absorption of the vitamin, so many women can need more than 75 mg. to get the benefits. Fortunately, the body gets just as much — if not more — of the essential vitamin with one liposomal vitamin C capsule. ″Nutrients delivered in liposomal form have equal or greater efficacy than higher doses of non-liposomal tablets,″ asserts Pauline Jose, M.D. And while traditional vitamin C supplements often cause loose stool and stomach cramps at high doses, liposomal C hasn’t been linked to these GI symptoms.
To get optimal benefits, supplement with 1,000 mg of liposomal vitamin C per day. Make sure to look for a brand that has phosphatidylcholine or lecithin listed in the ingredients — this is an indicator that the vitamin has been enveloped in a bubble that protects the vitamin as it travels through the GI tract and into cells. If vitamin C is the only ingredient listed on the label, then it isn’t a true liposomal product. One that gets high reviews from users: Wholesome Wellness Liposomal Vitamin C (Buy at Wholesome-Wellness.com, $18).
Once you start taking liposomal vitamin C, you’ll see results fast. Indeed, women in an Arizona State University study experienced increased fat burning in eight weeks. In addition to supplementing daily, the strategies here maximize vitamin C absorption and enhance its fat-burning effects:
• Start on empty. Taking liposomal vitamin C on an empty stomach increases absorption. However, some women we spoke with report that liposomal vitamin C made them feel nauseated and bloated at first. The reason? ″Liposomal vitamin C may be too potent and acidic for sensitive stomachs,″ explains health expert Anthony William, known as the Medical Medium. If the supplement makes you queasy, pair it with a snack, like a handful of almonds. If symptoms persist, he advises starting with a lower dose and slowly increasing your intake over the course of a week.
• Eat C-rich foods this way. Including foods high in vitamin C in your diet will speed metabolism. For best results, enjoy them raw, steamed or lightly sauteed — research from UC Davis found that up to 55 percent of the nutrient is lost during high-heat cooking.
• Don’t go hungry. Boosting C intake will speed slimming on any diet, but to lose faster, aim to eat three meals and two snacks each day. The reason: When you don’t get plenty of calories throughout the day, the body flips into starvation mode, which decreases muscle mass, undoing vitamin C’s weight-loss benefits.
Lynn Jordan hung up the phone after persuading her mother, who had advanced Alzheimer’s, to go back to bed. It was the third call since Lynn had gotten into bed, and she thought, I’m exhausted. No wonder I won’t have willpower around food tomorrow.
Lynn has started to gain weight in her 60s, when she became a “stressed, sleep-deprived” care-giver. Her cardiologist told her, “If you want to take care of your mom, you’ve got to take care of yourself!” So Lynn joined a TOPS support group and began a food journal. Her stumbling block was dessert, but when she reached for sweet vitamin C-rich blood oranges and satsumas, she discovered a surprise: “I didn’t crave other sweets!” Lynn also read that C supports weight loss, so she supplemented with 1,000 mg of vitamin C plus zinc daily. Thanks to her healthy changes, Lynn started losing weight and her chronic knee and hip pain eased. Her cholesterol and blood sugar readings had improved too. Getting out of plus-size clothing is the milestone Lynn most remembers: “That made my week, my month, my year!”
Today, Lynn is 100 pounds slimmer. Surprisingly, she says, “this transformation hasn’t been hard. I used to watch people on The Biggest Loser, and they looked miserable. It doesn’t have to be like that. For me, it was real weight loss for real people!”
Liposomal Vitamin C Capsules such as the ones by Wholesome Wellness provide better vitamin C Absorption without the side effects such as stomach cramps and diarrhea. Just make sure the supplement has phosphatidylcholine or lecithin listed in the ingredients otherwise it isn’t a true liposomal product.
Full ingredients for this product is: Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Palmitate) 1450mg, Phospholipid Blend (Non-GMO Sunflower Oil and Lecithin) 50mg, Vegetable Capsule
As of now, Wholesome Wellness currently has a sale on their liposomal vitamin c capsules and you can save an additional 5% discount off your order by using the code: 5OFF
184mg per 1/2 cup raw; 163mg per 1/2 cup cooked
47mg per 1/4 cup raw; 33mg per 1/4 cup cooked
72mg per 4 tbsp raw; 44mg per 4 tbsp cooked
58mg per 1/2 cup baked; 48mg per 1/2 cup broiled
96mg per whole grapefruit; 82mg per whole orange
120mg per 1/2 cup raw; 53mg per 1/2 cup cooked
118mg per cup strawberries; 52mg per cup raspberries
70mg per kiwi fruit
Zucchini Egg Nests Top two fried eggs with sliced zucchini, salt, white cheddar, basil, and a drizle of olive oil. Server with your favorite vitamin C-rich fruit like apples and kiwi.
Grain Bowl Top 1 cup of cooked quinoa with 1 cup sliced peaches, bing cherries, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and microgreens. Tss with 1/4 cup gorgonzola cheese, pinch of salt and pepper, a slice of lemon and drizzle with olive oil.
Dark chocolate dipped fruit Melt 1 oz of 50% dark chocolate. Stire in 1 tablespoon of coconut milk. Server with warm vitamin C-rich fruit such as strawberries or bananas.
Chicken and veggies Server 4 oz. of roasted chicken with the skin alongside 1 cup of roasted potatoes and baby carrots.
