Cholesterol
Bears and other hibernating animals have an average cholesterol levels of 400 mg per deciliter. If cholesterol causes heart attacks and strokes, the bear and other hibernating animals would be extinct long time ago as a result of heart attacks. The bears produce large amounts of vitamin C which stabilize their artery walls so they are unaffected by cholesterol.

According to Matthias Rath, the bears are not extinct because:

The Paleo Diet is high in vitamins and other nutrients recommended in Dr.Rath Cellular Health Progam outlined in his book.

A large study about the importance of vitamins in the prevention of cardiovascular disease was performed in Europe. Cardiovascular diseases are more frequent in Northern European countries and Scandinavia, compared to Mediterranean countries.  The vitamin intake is low in Northern Europe. The diet in the Mediterranean countries is rich in vitamins.

Professor K.F Gey, from the University of Berne in Switzerland compared the blood levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene as well as cholesterol to the rate of cardiovascular disease in these countries. He found that:

The regular diet in southern Europe is high in bioflavonoids and provides an optimum amount of vitamins daily. 

Source: Why Animals Don’t Get Heart Attacks…But People Do! by Matthias RathPhoto Credit

Vitamin C is an antioxidant responsible for more than 300 metabolic functions in the body, but it cannot be  manufactured  by the body. It needs to be obtained from the diet or supplement.

Avocados, cantaloupe, black currants, beet greens, dandelion greens, collards, Brussel sprouts, grapefruit, dulse, kale, lemons, mangos, mustard greens, onions, oranges, papayas, sweet peppers, persimmons, pineapple, radishes, rosehips, spinach strawberries, turnip greens and watercress are good sources of vitamin C.

Plenty of herbs contain vitamin C as well, such as alfalfa, burdock root, cayenne, chickweed, fennel seed, eyebright, fenugreek, horsetail, kelp, peppermint, mullein, nettle, oat straw, paprika, parsley, pine needle, plantain, raspberry leaf, red clover, rose hips, skullcap, and yellow dock.

Vitamin C has many functions in the body. It is essential in the cholesterol metabolism, the formation of teeth, ligaments, blood cells, and body tissues. It is involved in the assimilation of iron, maintenance of vision, and in cell respiration. It has also been confirmed in studies that vitamin C has the capability to eliminate lead and other poisons from the body. It is a great detoxifier, and it can even be used as an aid in neutralizing a black widow bite. It is in included in our first aid kit.

Studies have shown that vitamin C can reduce symptoms of asthma. It also acts as a natural anti-histamine for allergies. Vitamin C promotes healing, build healthy ligaments and connective tissues, and aids in the prevention of bruising.

Wound healing is faster because when Vitamin C is added to cultured human skin fibroblasts, the collagen synthesis increases eight times.  Due to its healing effect every sport injury greatly benefits from high doses of vitamin C.

The body has a need to replace collagen due to all wear and tear we expose the body to. The wear and tear is higher in long distance runners, running athlete, weight training, and hill sprinting as well as many other activities. Vitamin C helps build collagen for healthy ligaments and connective tissues.

Dr. B. Sokoloff showed in a study sponsored by the American Heart Association, that triglyceride levels in the blood could be reduced by 50-70% by taking two-three grams a day. 

Matthias Rath, M.D, in his book "Why Animals Don't Get Heart Attacks..But People do", states that the ability to increase the production of collagen elastin and other reinforcement molecules is the most important function of vitamin C in preventing strokes and heart attacks. He also says that atherosclerosis is an early form of scurvy. The depletion of vitamin C leads to a gradual breakdown of the body's connective tissues, including the blood vessels. Sufficient amount of vitamin C in the body on the other hand leads to optimum production and function of collagen molecules. When the blood vessels walls are stable atherosclerotic deposits do not develop.

As we seen vitamin C is a very useful antioxidant with many uses. It enhances the immunity as well as aids in the production of anti-stress hormones. It promotes healing of wounds and burns, protect against abnormal blood clotting and bruising. It also counteract free radical damage.

So, how much is recommended per day? Well, it all depends who's recommendation you follow. The RDI for nutrients are barely a maintenance dose and doesn't provide sufficient amount of nutrients that we need. Factors such as medications, especially analgesics, antidepressants, anti-coagulants, oral contraceptives, and steroids that may reduce levels of vitamin C are not being considered . Smoking also depletes the levels of vitamin C.

Here is a chart from the Vitamin C foundation and as you can see the RDI recommended by the government is way low compared to what should be taken for optimal health. You can also see that Linus Pauling, the Nobel Price winner and well known experts in vitamin C recommended a higher amount as well.

RDI    Source/Population

60-95 mg    U.S. Recommended Intake

200 mg    Levin/NIH Recommendation

400 mg (recently increased)    Current Linus Pauling Institute Recommendation

2500 mg    Hickey/Roberts minimum

3000 mg    Foundation's daily recommendation

6000-12000 mg    Levy's daily recommendation

6000-18000 mg    Linus Pauling's daily recommendation

6000-9000 mg    Pregnancy

6000-18000 mg    Heart Disease

14000-30000 mg    Cancer

20000-300000 mg    Cathcart/Levy Cure for Infectious Diseases

 

We like to use vitamin C in a non acidic powdered form and we add calcium ascorbates to our shakes. In our quest for optimum health my husband and I  try to find supplements, foods, and herbs that provide as powerful nourishment as possible to a reasonable price. We believe vitamin C is one of those with amazing properties.

Check out Linus Pauling Institute for more information about studies of vitamin C for conditions like stroke, lead toxicity, gout, cataracts, cancer, coronary heart disease, immunity, and diabetes.

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Do you use regular sunscreen? Summer is around the corner and the advertising for sunscreen can be found everywhere. They fail to tell you how dangerous the chemicals are, and how the sunscreen block the skin's ability to synthesize Vitamin D from the sun. It can reduce the vitamin D production by 99%.

Vitamin D has many health benefits and it is very important for your health. The benefits of Vitamin D are many, but some are:

The best is to limit your exposure in the sun, gradually build up the skin's exposure to the sun instead of spending hours outside the first time after winter, eat appropriate food and supplements to protect the skin from the inside, and wear protective clothing.

There are times when  you absolutely need a sunscreen, especially when you find yourself out in the sun all day without any shade.

Look for a a natural alternative without any harmful chemicals. Avoid chemicals like octyl methoxycinnamate, Para amino benzoic acid, Octyl salicyclate, Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Cinoxate, Padimate O, Dioxybenzone, Phenylbenzimidazole, Homosalate, Sulisobenzone, Menthyl anthranilate, Trolamine salicyclate, Octocrylene, and parabens.