Vitamin C is derived from ascorbic acid, which is essentially a protective coating. When you look at the amount of ascorbic acid that is found in vitamin C capsules, the dosage is usually quite high; reaching pass 30 grams. However, in nature, ascorbic acid cannot be found pass 100 milligrams.
This means vitamin C capsules that claim to have 100 milligrams or more of ascorbic acid, it is more than likely synthetically made. Synthetic ascorbic acid is made of corn starch and sulfuric acid.
Certainly not what comes to mind when you think of taking you vitamins. While ascorbic acid plays a major role in vitamin c when recovering from a cold, it can leave you depleted. The same healing factors can be achieved by mixing a bit of apple cider vinegar with water and drinking it. Essentially, too much of the ascorbic acid can cause a vitamin deficiency.
Aside from ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a complex vitamin that is made up of 3 other vitamins. Vitamin J is the lung and anti pneumonia vitamin as it helps your lungs produce oxygen.
Copper is a mineral that is a part of the vitamin C complex that is found in an enzyme form called hydroxylase. The hydroxlase acts as a precursor to help build the adrenal hormones; which is where the reservoir of vitamin c is held. Vitamin K adds the clotting factor which becomes important if you ever have an open wound.
If you are not able to consume enough vitamin c through your daily diet, you can add a vitamin c supplement. However, it is essential that you read the label and make sure the ascorbic acid levels are low and the vitamin c is derived from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables to avoid a vitamin c deficiency.