posted September 02, 2005 02:54 PM         

It was once read that too much Vit. C can be bad for you, the kidneys especially. The type of Vit. C being referred to in the article is pure "ascorbic acid". The reasoning was that ascorbic acid is just one of many many ascorbates that make up Vit. C in nature (veggies etc...).

posted September 03, 2005 10:15 AM         

I only have a moment, but I will reply in more depth as soon as I can.

My understanding about vitamin supplements, from my favorite naturopath, Dr. Richard Schulze, is this: Most vitamin supplements are made from things your body can not properly absorb. You would think that Vitamin C supplements would be made from fruits, but that is not the case. Rocks, minerals, etc., are not providing what your body needs...so, there is little or no benefit from taking them.

The best thing: juice. Fresh juice you make yourself. Lots of fruits and veggies in your diet.

Most herbal products have similar problems: they are grown in 3rd world countries where there is little or no regulation on the types of pesticides, etc. that are used. The quality is extremely poor, and they are laden with all those nasty chemicals used in the growing process.

Buy certified organic if buying herbal supplements.

Must go...sorry for being so brief.