Hi guys, Kris from Custom Fitness here, your personal trainer in Amarillo. It is officially fall. Amarillo has been cloudy and rainy lately. With the changing weather comes the boxes of Kleenex and hand sanitizers. A lot of people are trying to get ahead of the cold and flu season by asking me “when is the best time to take Vitamin C?” Those who aren’t asking are the ones coming in already feeling sick, but trying to combat it with Emergen-C or the like. Today I’ll answer that question for you. If you have questions about today’s blog or would like other information for fighting off the sniffles and cough, give us a call: 806-322-3188.
Opinions differ on the timing for taking Vitamin C, but prevention is the common priority. Building up your Vitamin C levels before you get sick will help pump up your immune system decrease your susceptibility for catching anything and it will reduce the longevity of the illness if you do end up with it. Waiting to take your supplement until you notice symptoms, will result is a slightly shorter length of illness, but not by much. Prevention by boosting your internal Vitamin C levels will keep you out of bed and on the go with as little downtime as possible.
Vitamin C can be extremely beneficial to the body for preventing illness. Additionally, this nutrient is great at managing the physical symptoms of stress such as headaches, muscle tension, or upset stomach. Taking Vitamin C on a semi-regular basis during your high stress moments will give your body a chance to relax. Getting your mind out of the hyper stress state is important because the longer you function at that level, the weaker your immune system will become. Lowered immune system leads to…that’s right, getting sick. If you want to avoid illness or the pangs of stress this fall or winter, taking your Vitamin C on a regular basis is important. As a personal trainer in Amarillo, I can personally vouch that I have seen Vitamin C work wonders on my family and clients during cold and flu season and beyond.
Building up your body’s Vitamin C level is easier than you might think. Food products are always your best bet. Typically dark green, leafy veggies, such as Kale or Collard Greens, are packed with Vitamin C. Anything you consume that is natural will absorb in your body a little differently than something man-made. That’s not to say one is always better than the other, but in the case of vitamins and minerals, the more plant based products you can eat to meet your nutritional needs, the better. Supplements are okay too, but it’s essential to talk with your doctor to find out what’s the best combination of supplements to take to ward off stress and illness. Just make sure you aren’t going overboard on the pills.
There is a product called Sambucus, or elderberry syrup, you may have heard of. It helps your body to create its own Vitamin C rather than consuming the nutrient via a capsule. That’s one of my preferred ways to increase my Vitamin C levels in a natural way. I typically go for things that enhance my own body’s function rather than relying on supplements made by man. Admittedly, I do use supplements sometimes; often whenever what I’m doing isn’t working. You can do everything in your arsenal to prevent sickness, but sometimes the infection just gets you. If that’s the case, up your Vitamin C dosage to shorten the length of the illness.
Orange Juice is actually not your best source of Vitamin C unless you squeeze it yourself. The jugs sold in the store have more sugar than nutritional benefit. Not to mention they are EXPENSIVE! You’re better off choosing Vitamin C loaded veggies or the Sambucus, I mentioned before.
Make sure you are always staying on top of your hydration to flush the bacteria or virus out of your system ASAP. Remember hydration is achieved by drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water everyday. If you’re sick while you’re drinking the water, remember to throw your glass in the washer before you fill it up again.
If you’ve taken your Vitamin C, you’ve filled up on veggies, your water intake is where it should be, but you’re still feeling under the weather. Take a hard look at your symptoms and decide if this is something you can/should be treating at home or if this is a situation to go to your doctor.
To answer the question, when is the best time to take your Vitamin C? Always. Preferably before you notice any symptoms, but upping the dose once any symptoms arise will help shorten the time you are green and aid in stress management.
The last Down Size session of 2017 is coming up. Beginning October 30th, if you have 15 inches or 20 pounds to lose before Christmas this is for you. Down Size will revamp your eating habits with real food, your exercise habits with functional exercises, and give you a new outlook on your lifestyle choices. We provide to you a comprehensive meal plan using regular food you find in the grocery store cooked up in tasty ways that don’t imitate cardboard. My team and I will personalize a workout routine to fit your needs; do you have joint pain, minimal time, or are brand new to fitness? No worries, we got your back. We also provide you with accountability. If you’ve been following our other blogs, you’ve seen how crucial it is to find a partner who you can check in with you on your progress. In 6 weeks, if you work hard following the program and end up losing the 20 pounds you get a 100% refund. Sounds enticing? Give us a call and we’ll be happy to set you up with an application.
If Down Size isn’t your thing, reach out to our team. We’d be happy to bring you in for a consult to show you what other programs and services we offer and see if we are a good fit for what you want to achieve. Our team is always ready to customize a plan that is tailored to you and your individual needs and get you on the way to your goals. Our phone number is 806-322-3188 or e-mail us at info@customfitness.biz. At Custom Fitness, we are YOUR personal trainer in Amarillo, Texas. Have a great day.