|
|
|
|
Bioflavinoids |
|
C and Rose Hips |
|
SO EXACTLY WHAT IS A
ROSE HIP, ANYWAY? Any
biologist knows that roses don't have hips because they
are not vertebrates. Ha! Okay, back on task: Rose hips are the fruit
of a rose bush. All flowers give rise to fruits, and the rose is no
exception. When I hike (just got back from another one), I look for wild or
feral rosebushes and munch out on the "hips" as soon as they are
ready (usually early autumn). They are often found on the bushes throughout
the entire winter, just waiting for you to come along. Eaten fresh or
dried, they are high in vitamin C. Rose hips are a rich
source of bioflavinoids. Bioflavinoids improve uptake and utilization of
vitamin C. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi won the Nobel prize
for his research with vitamin C and related factors back in the 30's. He
actually proposed the term "Vitamin P" for the
("protective"?) phytochemicals in
bioflavinoids. In a rather adorable, unplanned bit of research, Szent-Gyorgyi was feeding pure vitamin C to his lab
animals. One evening, some of them snuck out of their cage and ate
his dinner when he wasn't looking: the meal consisted of stuffed green
peppers. Szent-Gyorgyi observed that the animals
that ate the peppers seemed to require considerably less pure ascorbic acid
than did the less lucky critters. Peppers, along with many fruits and
vegetables, are high in bioflavinoids. Many folks would do well
to note this next section: there is so very little rose hips powder in most
"rose-hips C" tablets that it is a waste of money to pay extra for
what amounts to nearly zilch. I (in agreement with Linus Pauling)
recommend that people buy the cheapest vitamin C they can find, and take a
lot of it. This means moderate amounts very frequently. The only reason
to pay more for "C" is if you have a sensitive tummy and need a
buffered form, and rose hips have essentially nothing to do with that. I recommend that people
take cheap C, AND eat right. Foods are a lousy source of vitamin C but
an excellent source of bioflavinoids. Vitamin C tablets are a lousy
source of bioflavinoids, but a good source of C. Good match. And by the way, a green or
red pepper IS a fruit. So are pumpkins, green beans and squash. They all come
from flowers. A rose by any other name?
References: Jones E. and Hughes R.E.
(1984) The influence of bioflavonoids on the absorption of vitamin C. IRCS
Med. Sci. 12 320
Vinson J A, Bose P.
(1983) Comparative bioavailability of synthetic and natural vitamin C in
Guinea pigs. Nutr Rep Intl
27(4):875. Vinson J A, Bose P.
(1988) Comparative bioavailability to humans of ascorbic acid alone or in a
citrus extract. Am J Clin Nutr 48:6014. Copyright C 2005 and
prior years Andrew W. Saul. Andrew Saul is the author
of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be
Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html
) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html
) For ordering information, Click Here .
|
|
|
AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This page is not in any way offered as prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain it from a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health decision. Neither the author nor the webmaster has authorized the use of their names or the use of any material contained within in connection with the sale, promotion or advertising of any product or apparatus. Single-copy reproduction for individual, non-commercial use is permitted providing no alterations of content are made, and credit is given. |
|
|
|
|
| Home | Order my Books | About the Author | Contact Us | Webmaster | |
